MinuteClinic Becomes Participating Provider With Highmark Inc.
MINNEAPOLIS, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the pioneer and largest provider of retail health care in the United States, announced that it has become a participating provider with Highmark Inc., the largest health care insurer in Pennsylvania based on membership.
Members of Highmark's health plans now have access to MinuteClinic health care centers located inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in the Pittsburgh market.
"This is an important development in the growth of our business in Western Pennsylvania as we expand access to care to millions of new customers," said Chip Phillips, MinuteClinic president. "By offering high quality treatment in a convenient setting, we can work with Highmark to help reduce health care insurance expenses for its members as well as time spent away from members' families and the workplace."
MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by masters-prepared, board-certified nurse practitioners who specialize in family health care and are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions when clinically indicated for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, MMR, and Hepatitis A & B are also available. MinuteClinic retail locations are open seven days a week. No appointment is necessary.
MinuteClinic nurse practitioners utilize nationally recognized medical protocols to diagnose and treat health conditions. With the patient's consent, treatment information is shared with his or her primary care physician to facilitate continuity of care. In addition, patients can also download their MinuteClinic visit summary to an electronic personal health record.
About Highmark Inc.
As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc.'s mission is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.8 million people through the company's health care benefits business. Highmark contributes millions of dollars to help keep quality health care programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to improve people's health. Highmark Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.
About MinuteClinic
Minneapolis-based MinuteClinic is a subsidiary of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS - News), the No. 1 provider of prescriptions and related health care services in the nation. MinuteClinic launched the first retail health care centers in the United States in 2000 and is the first provider to establish a national presence with about 500 locations in 25 states. By creating a health care delivery model that responds to consumer demand, MinuteClinic makes access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. The company has generated more than 3.5 million patient visits, with a 95 percent customer satisfaction rating. A recognized leader in the patient-centric health care movement, MinuteClinic consistently brings innovation to the marketplace and sets new standards for clinical quality that exceed the national guidelines established for store-based clinics by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). MinuteClinic is the first retail health care provider to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the national evaluation and certifying agency for nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. For more information, visit www.MinuteClinic.com.
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