CVS Health's MinuteClinic is rolling out its telehealth visits in seven additional states.
After launching the option in nine states and the District of Columbia in August, CVS Health has expanded MinuteClinic Video Visits to patients in Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont. The option, CVS Health said, offers patients access to care 24 hours a day, seven days a week from their mobile device.
“We’re excited to introduce MinuteClinic Video Visits to people in seven additional states,” said Marc-David Munk, CVS MinuteClinic chief medical officer and CVS Health associate chief medical officer. “At CVS Health, we’re committed to delivering high-quality care when and where our patients need it and at prices they can afford. This new MinuteClinic service offers even more patients access to an innovative, on-demand health care option right from their cell phone.”
MinuteClinic has been testing telehealth as a method of increasing access to care in recent years. During the initial phase of testing, a CVS Health study found that 95% of patients who opted to receive a telehealth visit were highly satisfied with the quality of care they received. In the same study, 95% percent of patients were satisfied with the convenience of using the telehealth service and the overall telehealth experience.
Working with Teladoc and leveraging Teladoc’s technology platform, patients can receive care via a MinuteClinic Video Visit, initiated through the CVS Pharmacy app.
A video visit can be used to care for patients ages two years and up who are seeking treatment for a minor illness, minor injury, or a skin condition, the company said. Each patient will complete a health questionnaire, then be matched to a board-certified health care provider licensed in their state, who will review the completed questionnaire with the patient’s medical history, and proceed with the video-enabled visit.
During a MinuteClinic Video Visit, the provider will assess the patient’s condition and determine the appropriate course of treatment following evidence-based clinical care guidelines. For patients who require a prescription as part of their treatment plan, the provider will submit the prescription to the patient’s preferred pharmacy. If it is determined the patient should be seen in person for follow-up care or testing, the provider will recommend that the patient visit a health care provider in their community, such as their primary care provider or a nearby MinuteClinic location.
The service is now available in 16 states, and CVS Health said it continues to expect it to be available nationwide, where allowed, by the end of the year.