Diabetes is a growing health concern, placing a significant burden on individuals and healthcare systems alike. Recognizing this critical need, CVS Health introduced the Cvs Caremark Transform Diabetes Care Program, a comprehensive initiative designed to enhance health outcomes, manage pharmacy costs, and reduce overall medical expenses for members with diabetes. This innovative program, launched in early 2017, focuses on delivering tailored support, integrating clinical care with cost-effective solutions, and guaranteeing significant savings for participating clients.
Person using glucometer, representing diabetes management
At the heart of the CVS Caremark Transform Diabetes Care program are three core pillars aimed at improving diabetes management: medication adherence, A1C control, and lifestyle management. By addressing these key areas, the program strives to empower individuals to take control of their health journey. Dr. Troyen A. Brennan, Chief Medical Officer of CVS Health, emphasized the program’s unique strength, stating, “What’s unique about this program is that at CVS Health we are able to marshal resources across our enterprise and provide a high level of personalized support and care via multiple touch points.” This integrated approach leverages CVS Health’s extensive network, including over 9,600 pharmacy locations and more than 1,100 MinuteClinic locations, to deliver accessible and timely support where patients are already seeking healthcare solutions.
The program utilizes advanced analytics to pinpoint specific areas where individual members can improve their diabetes management. CVS Health’s Health Engagement Engine then facilitates effective outreach, offering personalized counseling opportunities. Enrolled members benefit from highly individualized coaching aimed at improving medication adherence, diligently tracking and controlling A1C levels, and fostering healthy lifestyle choices. These crucial interventions are provided at no extra cost to members, accessible through in-person consultations at CVS Pharmacy locations or via telephone. Furthermore, members gain access to complimentary comprehensive diabetes visits at MinuteClinic locations, including vital A1C checks.
To further enhance patient engagement and proactive management, the CVS Caremark Transform Diabetes Care program offers a connected glucometer. This device seamlessly shares blood glucose readings with a dedicated pharmacist-led team through a secure health cloud. This real-time data sharing empowers the team to identify potential issues promptly and intervene with personalized, one-on-one coaching, ensuring timely support when needed most. Digital tools accessible through the CVS Pharmacy mobile app further simplify daily disease management, offering features like medication refill reminders and convenient two-way text messaging prescription refills.
Jonathan Roberts, President of CVS Caremark, highlighted the financial benefits for clients, noting, “In 2016 antidiabetic drugs were the leading driver of gross costs for our clients. The Transform Diabetes Care program will enable us to help our clients manage the unsustainable increases in the cost of diabetes care.” Participating clients in the CVS Caremark Transform Diabetes Care program are offered a compelling single-digit drug trend guarantee for antidiabetic medications, alongside a managed pharmacy network encompassing all CVS Pharmacy locations and CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy. This streamlined network simplifies medication refills, enhances coordination with primary care providers, and fosters consistent patient engagement with their therapy and the program’s clinical services. Clients can potentially save between $3,000 to $5,000 annually for each member who successfully improves their diabetes control, demonstrating the significant financial and health benefits of the program.
The CVS Caremark Transform Diabetes Care program stands as the flagship initiative within CVS Health’s suite of Transform Care programs, all focused on managing prevalent and costly chronic conditions. Building upon the success of existing CVS Health diabetes programs, this new offering emphasizes lifestyle management, medication adherence, and A1C control as key drivers for improved health and reduced medical costs. The CVS Health Pharmacy Advisor Counseling program has already demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach, achieving a nearly 10 percent increase in optimal medication adherence among enrolled members with diabetes. The CVS Caremark Transform Diabetes Care program represents a significant step forward in proactive and personalized diabetes care, offering a powerful solution for both individuals and healthcare payers.
