• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

  • Opinion
  • Health IT
    • Behavioral Health
    • Care Coordination
    • EMR/EHR
    • Interoperability
    • Patient Engagement
    • Population Health Management
    • Revenue Cycle Management
    • Social Determinants of Health
  • Digital Health
    • AI
    • Blockchain
    • Precision Medicine
    • Telehealth
    • Wearables
  • Life Sciences
  • Investments
  • M&A
  • Value-based Care
    • Accountable Care (ACOs)
    • Medicare Advantage

CVS Caremark Expands Efforts to Tackle Health Disparities

by Fred Pennic 09/15/2021 Leave a Comment

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print

What You Should Know:

 – CVS Caremark announced an expansion of its efforts to address health disparities among patients, starting with certain conditions including sickle cell disease, HIV, and cardiovascular disease.

– CVS Caremark is working with its clients to create health equity strategies for PBM members with certain conditions that disproportionately affect patients of color. The company will also use its broad reach and collaborate with community partners to determine the best ways to influence systemic change for those who’ve struggled with disease for many years and for newly diagnosed members.

CVS Caremark’s Approach to Addressing Health Disparities

CVS Caremark’s approach will focus on the following principles:

– A four-pillar programmatic approach: 1) awareness and educational resources, 2) testing and screening, 3) access to health services, and 4) treatment optimization interventions

– Collaborate with community-based organizations and patient advocacy groups to deliver care where the people are

Utilize enterprise assets including health care services available in CVS HealthHUB® locations and legacy corporate social responsibility programs such as Project Health where appropriate

– Measure and share results on an ongoing basis for continuous learning

– Collaborate with community-based organizations and patient advocacy groups to deliver care where the people are

– Utilize enterprise assets including health care services available in CVS HealthHUB® locations and legacy corporate social responsibility programs such as Project Health where appropriate

– Measure and share results on an ongoing basis for continuous learning

Doubling Down on Sickle Cell Disease

Among its goals are doubling the number of patients on hydroxyurea for people living with sickle cell disease (SCD), improving adherence among those already on the drug, and significantly increasing trait testing. SCD is an incredibly painful disease that primarily affects communities of color and left untreated can lead to life-threatening complications. Hydroxyurea, a low-cost medication, can help patients better manage their condition by reversing the sickling of blood cells. In some areas the number of people with SCD has doubled because many people who carry the trait that can lead to developing the condition, are not aware of it. Increasing trait testing starting with greater awareness and education, can help consumers make more informed decisions. CVS Caremark plans to work with national and community organizations to understand the needs of local communities and develop programs to increase awareness and access.

Increasing Awareness for HIV Testing and Prevention

The company is also adding to existing initiatives to increase awareness about HIV testing and prevention for CVS Caremark members, particularly among communities of color by sharing educational resources with those at risk, and helping patients initiate preventive therapy when appropriate. These efforts are incremental to the company’s ongoing participation in the Ready, Set, PrEP initiative by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aimed at eliminating 90 percent of new HIV infections by 2030 and helping end the AIDS epidemic. While a multitude of social, economic and demographic factors impact HIV transmission rates throughout the U.S., low-income individuals, minorities (especially African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos) and LGBTQ+ populations are among the most vulnerable to HIV.

Cardiovascular Disease

For cardiovascular disease, CVS Caremark aims to increase initiation of medication therapy amongst people facing health disparities and help ensure those already on treatment are on an optimized dosage to reach their target blood pressure and staying adherent to their regimen.

In all disease areas, the company will work with local community organizations and advocacy groups to ensure those facing health inequities have access to the resources and care they need.

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print

Tagged With: Health Disparities, Social Determinants of Health

Tap Native

Get in-depth healthcare technology analysis and commentary delivered straight to your email weekly

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to HIT Consultant

Latest insightful articles delivered straight to your inbox weekly.

Submit a Tip or Pitch

Featured Interview

Reach7 Diabetes Studios Founder Chun Yong on Reimagining Chronic Care with a Concierge Medical Model

Most-Read

Evernorth Health Services Invests $3.5B in Shields Health Solutions

Evernorth Health Services Invests $3.5B in Shields Health Solutions

KLAS Report: Oracle Health Faces Customer Losses and Declining Satisfaction

KLAS Report: Oracle Health Faces Customer Losses and Declining Satisfaction

Tempus AI Acquires Digital Pathology Leader Paige for $81.25M

M&A:Tempus AI Acquires Digital Pathology Leader Paige for $81.25M

Mira Launches Ultra4™, the First At-Home Hormone Monitor with Lab-Quality Insights

Femtech: Mira Launches Ultra4™, the First At-Home Hormone Monitor with Lab-Quality Insights

Preparing for the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’: How Digitization Can Streamline Medicaid Eligibility & Social Care Delivery

Preparing for the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’: How Digitization Can Streamline Medicaid Eligibility & Social Care Delivery

How Healthcare CIOs Can Solve the Unstructured Data Crisis and Reduce Storage Costs

How Healthcare CIOs Can Solve the Unstructured Data Crisis and Reduce Storage Costs

Healthcare C-Suite Acknowledges AI Potential but Lacks Trust

Sage Growth Partners Report: Healthcare C-Suite Acknowledges AI Potential but Lacks Trust

EVERSANA and Waltz Health Merge to Redefine Pharmaceutical Commercialization

EVERSANA and Waltz Health Merge to Redefine Pharmaceutical Commercialization

Advancing Diabetes Care: Combating Burnout and Harnessing Technology

Advancing Diabetes Care: Combating Burnout and Harnessing Technology

White House Event Unveils CMS Health Tech Ecosystem Initiative

White House Event Unveils CMS Health Tech Ecosystem Initiative

Secondary Sidebar

Footer

Company

  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Reprints and Permissions
  • Submit An Op-Ed
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Editorial Coverage

  • Opinion
  • Health IT
    • Care Coordination
    • EMR/EHR
    • Interoperability
    • Population Health Management
    • Revenue Cycle Management
  • Digital Health
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Blockchain Tech
    • Precision Medicine
    • Telehealth
    • Wearables
  • Startups
  • Value-Based Care
    • Accountable Care
    • Medicare Advantage

Connect

Subscribe to HIT Consultant Media

Latest insightful articles delivered straight to your inbox weekly

Copyright © 2025. HIT Consultant Media. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy |