CVS Tackles Care Disparities, Community-Based Preventive Care

May 05, 2021 - In pursuit of health equity, CVS Health announced an expansion of the company's no-cost, community-based health program, Project Health, which helps address care disparities by providing preventive care services to at-risk communities.

As CVS Health begins its 16th year of Project Health events, it will expand the program into 14 new metro markets (Birmingham, AL; Phoenix, AZ; Jacksonville, Orlando and Tallahassee, FL; Baton Rouge and New Orleans, LA; Jackson, MS; Charlotte, NC; Cleveland, OH; Charleston and Columbia, SC; and Knoxville and Memphis, TN). The company will also add four new mobile health clinics to help bring care to people in significant need. 

From April through December, CVS Health plans to host more than 1,700 Project Health screening events at CVS Pharmacy locations in 32 metro markets across the country. 

"At the heart of our purpose of helping people on their path to better health is our commitment to breaking down the barriers for people to access quality and affordable health care, and we started Project Health to help address these barriers in at-risk communities," Eileen Howard Boone, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy at CVS Health, said in a press release.

"Each year as we choose Project Health locations, we select sites where we can make the most impact at the local level,” Howard Boone continued.

Last year, CVS Health committed close to $600 million to invest in programs that address racial health disparities faced by Black patients and other at-risk communities. The expansion of Project Health is the latest in the company's efforts to address care disparities and pursue health equity.

"Our efforts to address social justice and equity are focused in areas where we can have the greatest impact as a leader in health," said Kyu Rhee, SVP and Chief Medical Officer at CVS Health.

"Over the last 15 years, Project Health has been extremely successful in connecting people to the health information and follow-up care they need to address the chronic conditions in many health disparity populations,” Rhee continued. “As we expand the program this year, we will be able to dramatically increase our impact, ability to reduce health disparities and promote health equity."

The community-based health initiative offers free biometric screenings such as blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose level, and body mass index to detect warning signs of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease before they become life-threatening.

After receiving preventive care services, participants have the option to meet with a nurse practitioner who can provide follow-up care and referrals for treatment. As many Americans have put off primary care during COVID-19, these treatment referrals are expected to improve adherence to preventive care screenings and PCP visits.

Since Project Health started in 2006, the program has delivered over $134 million in free healthcare services to more than one million Americans in communities with high rates of uninsured or underinsured people.

CVS Health is tackling social determinants of health through an additional community-based health partnership with rideshare service Lyft.

Non-emergency medical transportation stands as a significant care access barrier for millions of people across the country, and the economic impact of the pandemic has only intensified this problem.

Lyft will work with CVS Health and non-profit partners to provide free or discounted rides to COVID-19 vaccination appointments as the vaccine rollout continues to help ensure that vulnerable communities have transportation access to be vaccinated.

“The combined strength of CVS Health and Lyft, with our ability to reach vulnerable communities, enables us to support equitable vaccine access in communities that need it most,” John Zimmer, co-founder and president of Lyft, said in a statement at the time of the announcement. “Now more than ever, equity matters.”