MinuteClinic inks deal with American CareSource

MinuteClinic’s partnership with ancillary care network services company American CareSource not only underscores the fact that the medical community is embracing the clinic model and encouraging use, but it also aims to help reduce healthcare insurance expenses for ACS members at a time when healthcare costs and reform are top of mind.

According to David Boone, CEO of ACS, a primary objective of the company is to provide clients, and ultimately the consumer, with more cost effective and convenient alternatives to hospital- and physician office-based services. Obviously, ACS understands the importance and value of the convenient care industry given that it selected CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic business to help it meet that goal.

As previously reported by Drug Store News, a 2008 HealthPartners study found that care delivered in such retail-based medical clinics as MinuteClinic are between 32% and 35% less, compared with care delivered in physician offices and urgent care locations. That study which was one of the first to analyze cost and care in retail clinics, examined five of the most common conditions seen in MinuteClinics: sore throat, ear infections, sinus infections, pink eye and bladder and kidney infections.

Meanwhile, for the convenient care industry, news of the partnership between MinuteClinic and ACS is yet one more nod to the fact that the medical community is embracing the retail-based clinic model and understands the quality, affordable care that these clinics offer patients.