With 7,800 retail stores and a presence in almost every state, CVS is now the country’s biggest operator of health clinics, according to an article on the New York Times website.
Its stand against smoking has allowed CVS to make alliances with healthcare providers and rebrand itself fully as a healthcare company.
CVS acquired MinuteClinic in 2006. The in-store health clinic chain was offering treatment for routine illnesses, basic screenings and vaccinations.
The growth comes at a time when the way Americans get access to and pay for healthcare is evolving quickly, the article said. Surveys show that many of the estimated 30 million people who gained insurance coverage last year under healthcare reform do not have a primary health care physician or do not use one. Consumers are starting to demand more convenient, on-demand access to healthcare.