CVS launches second half of annual Project Health wellness campaign, will deliver more than US$15M in free health screenings at events in multicultural communities across US by end of 2013

Cindy Allen

WOONSOCKET, Rhode Island , September 5, 2013 (press release) – Wellness program to include information on new health care coverage options

CVS/pharmacy announced today the kickoff to the second half of its annual Project Health wellness campaign. Project Health, known as Proyecto Salud in Spanish, will deliver more than $15 million worth of free health screenings to multicultural communities across the United States by the end of 2013.

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During the months of September, October and November, more than 375 Project Health events will be held at select CVS/pharmacy retail locations in 10 cities across the U.S., including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Several events will also be held across Ohio in October. Project Health events will also be held at select CVS/pharmacy stores in Puerto Rico. By the year's end, more than 770 Project Health events will have taken place in 2013.

Project Health offers an array of free comprehensive health risk assessments including blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), glucose, and cholesterol screenings, as well as smoking cessation counseling. Children seven years of age and older may participate in screenings with parental consent.

In September, representatives from Get Covered America will be available at Project Health events to provide consumers with information about the new health insurance marketplace and their coverage options under the new health care law. Health insurance experts will also be available at Project Health events in October and November.

"We know that our Project Health events are a great way to reach customers who may not have health insurance. In fact, about 45 percent of past attendees were uninsured," said Helena Foulkes, Executive Vice President and Chief Health Care Strategy and Marketing Officer for CVS Caremark. "As a pharmacy health care provider, we have a responsibility to help our patients make informed decisions about their health care, including the new health care coverage options available to them. Increased access to health care coverage will improve health outcomes and is in line with our purpose of helping people on their path to better health."

Project Health is part of CVS/pharmacy's commitment to improve access to health care and ensure that cost is not a barrier to critical preventive services. Project Health events, while held in cities with large multicultural populations, are open to everyone and do not require an appointment.

Added Foulkes, "By increasing access to vital preventive care through Project Health events, we are not only helping patients identify chronic conditions they may be at risk for, we are also arming them with the tools they need to take charge of their health and ultimately lead healthier lives."

Once screened, CVS/pharmacy will help patients through on-site consultations with bilingual (Spanish/English) nurse practitioners or physician assistants who will analyze results and refer patients who require additional medical attention to no-cost or low-cost medical facilities nearby or to their primary care physician if additional follow-up care is necessary. CVS pharmacists will be available to conduct one-on-one medication reviews and answer any questions the patients may have.

In 2012, nearly 160,000 people were screened through Project Health events, demonstrating the need for these critical services. Of the people screened, many areas of concern were discovered:

53 percent had at least one abnormal screening result;
51 percent had risk factors for osteoporosis;
51 percent were found to be overweight or obese;
47 percent had at least one abnormal risk factor for heart disease;
32 percent had abnormal glucose readings.

Project Health events will be held from 2pm-6pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, at select CVS/pharmacy locations in September, October and November, with no appointment needed. For more information, and a full calendar of Project Health events, visit www.cvs.com/projecthealth (in Spanish: www.cvs.com/proyectosalud), or call 1-855-287-7867.

About CVS/pharmacy

CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS), is America's leading retail pharmacy with more than 7,500 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drug stores. CVS/pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy to help people on their path to better health by providing the most accessible and personalized expertise, both in its stores and online at CVS.com. General information about CVS/pharmacy and CVS Caremark is available at http://info.cvscaremark.com.

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