Last Wednesday, February 7, CVS Health released earnings data for the fourth quarter of 2023 and the entire last year, paying special attention to initiatives aimed at improving primary health care and expanding omnichannel medical services.
During a telephone conversation with investors, representatives of the mentioned company stated that the brand’s current aspirations are aimed at accessible care options, whether in person, virtually, or at home.
The firm’s total revenue last year was $358 billion. This indicator showed an increase of about 11% compared to the result for 2022. In the structure of the company’s total revenue over the past year, the share of the omnichannel operations is $13.4 billion.
Karen Lynch, President and CEO of CVS Health, said that in 2023, the firm successfully coped with difficult conditions and delivered on its financial commitments. According to her, this result is evidence of the power of diversification. She also stated that the company provides access to high-quality, convenient, and affordable medical care for its 55 million-plus customers.
In December, CVS Health presented the CostVantage model, which provides for a fundamental change in the existing cost reimbursement methodology. The new model is part of the company’s efforts to increase transparency and streamline the process of returning prescription medication at approximately 9,500 pharmacies.
CVS Health has announced agreements with several cash discount card administrators to introduce a new model starting April 1. Karen Lynch says that this solution forms the basis for creating more predictable prices on the pharmacy counter for consumers.
CVS Health also announced a new Caremark TrueCost model in December. In this case, prices are offered to customers that reflect the true net cost of prescription drugs while maintaining the visibility of administrative fees.
Karen Lynch says that streamlined pricing will be a factor of positive impact on consumer confidence. In this case, confidence in the proposed value of goods is implied. Streamlined pricing will also be an advantage of pharmacies, which will affect the loyalty of consumers. Moreover, improving the mentioned mechanism, according to Karen Lynch, will ensure constant access to the nationwide pharmacy network.
Last year, CVS Healthspire, a new brand for the company’s health services segment, was launched. This business structure unites Caremark, Cordavis, MinuteClinic, Signify Health, and the health care provider Oak Street Health. Karen Lynch says that integrating medical units is the key to providing cheaper connected customer service and is a significant value for consumers. She noted that the total cost of medical care can be reduced if all assets work together. In this case, the results of the treatment of clients are also improved, the involvement of patients is deepened and loyalty is increased. Karen Lynch says that the rational use of assets can increase enterprise value three to four times, gaining participants in more than one CVS health business.
CVS Healthspire’s revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 amounted to more than $49 billion. This indicator showed an increase of more than 12% year-on-year. The result over the last three months of 2023 is due to significant growth in the pharmacy services business. Also, the financial performance of CVS Healthspire was positively affected by the acquisition of Signify Health and Oak Health in September 2022 and February last year, respectively.
CVS Health Virtual Primary Care, a virtual care solution announced in May 2022, became available to members of the corporate community eligible for Aetna insurance in January 2023. Clients can access primary health care around the clock and schedule mental health services from licensed therapists and psychiatrists. Also, in this case, the possibility of personal follow-up from any service provider on the network is provided, if necessary.
Moreover, members of the corporate community are given access to health data, including laboratory reports and prescriptions, on the CVS health dashboard. They also have the opportunity to share clinical information with other healthcare providers. This option allows consumers to get a comprehensive overview of the treatment in various locations.
Creagh Milford, DO, MPH, senior vice president of retail healthcare at CVS Health, says that the company’s virtual primary care offers a more connected healthcare experience that supports patients throughout their journey to receiving care. According to him, a team approach and the use of technology allow for longer and more holistic care to create a stronger relationship between patients and their providers.
As we have reported earlier, Harman Launches AI Solution for Healthcare.
