Health in Action: 1 of 3 Key Pillars That Define Our CSR Approach

Our Prescription for a Better World framework is organized around three key pillars: building healthy communities (Health in Action), protecting the planet (Planet in Balance) and creating economic opportunities (Leader in Growth). Each pillar is supported by strategic priorities and goals. 

The focus of our Health in Action pillar is centered on 3 strategic priorities.

Accessible and affordable health care
CVS Health understands that people who want to be well need straightforward solutions to help them on their path to better health. We are offering those solutions by changing the way health care  is delivered to increase access, lower costs and improve quality for our patients and customers.  Our pharmacists and nurse practitioners provide expert care through a variety of options that support affordable health care, medication advice and adherence, chronic condition monitoring and wellness support. This expert care is provided in our 7,800 retail pharmacies and 970 walk-in medical clinics located close to patients’ homes and linked to primary health care systems.

Support for patients with chronic diseases
About half of all American adults suffer from one or more chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, arthritis and obesity. According to the Center for Disease Control, chronic conditions are the “most common, costly and preventable of all health problems” in the U.S.  They are also the country’s leading cause of death and disability. With the aging boomer population upon us, the strain on health care from chronic conditions is expected to rise sharply.

So, too, are costs. Chronic conditions currently account for three of every four dollars spent  on health care, a factor of their prevalence and the spiraling cost of specialty drugs to treat them.  Specialty spending is expected to quadruple by 2020, reaching more than $400 billion per year. The rising costs are compounded by the significant number of patients who do not take their medications as prescribed and the nearly $300 billion each year in unnecessary and avoidable costs associated with medication non-adherence.

At CVS Health, we understand the challenges related to chronic disease prevention and management  as well as medication adherence. We are committed to applying our health care expertise and medical affiliations to continue to develop ways to support patients with chronic disease, help them adhere to their medications and help achieve better health outcomes.

Patient and customer well-being and safety
At CVS Health, the health and well-being of our patients and customers is our number one priority.  We are focused on creating a place where patients receive expert care and counsel and on ensuring the quality and safety of our products and dispensed medications.

To learn more about the Health in Action strategic priorities and their associated goals, refer to the Health in Action section of our Prescription for a Better World CSR report. A full web version of this report will be available here on June 15.