May 6, 2020 / Bruce Japsen, Senior Contributor
CVS Health reported a 600% surge in use of its retail health clinics via telehealth and a big jump in home prescription delivery as Americans sought easier access to healthcare services amid the spread of the coronavirus strain COVID-19.
CVS, which operates more than 1,100 MinuteClinic locations inside its CVS pharmacies and Target stores in 33 states and the District of Columbia, were big contributors to the company’s performance in the first quarter as cases of COVID-19 spread throughout the U.S.
“Utilization of telemedicine for virtual visits through MinuteClinic is up about 600% compared to (the first quarter of 2019),” CVS chief executive Larry Merlo told analysts on a 70-minute call Wednesday morning to discuss the company’s first quarter earnings.
