WOONSOCKET, R.I., March 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) today
announced more than $3 million in new
grants to support organizations in Phoenix working to increase equitable access
to health care, address social determinants of health and educate
the community on the effects of air pollution. This announcement
was made during a Project Health event in Phoenix and included CVS Health leaders,
community organizations and local officials.
"No two communities are the same," said Sheryl Burke, Senior Vice President of Corporate
Social Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer at CVS
Health. "That's why we are constantly looking for ways to pull
together all our community-based and sustainability efforts – like
here in Phoenix – to make a
meaningful impact and collaborate with organizations who know the
community best to address the unique barriers to improving health
outcomes. With nearly 12,000 employees working across the state who
deliver care through 187 pharmacies, dozens of MinuteClinic®,
specialty pharmacy and Oak Street Health® locations, and for a
million Aetna® members, this is also a part of our continued work
to invest in the communities where we live and work."
Bridging a critical gap in the health care and social
systems
With 65% of South
Phoenix residents overweight or obese and knowing that
80% of health care costs are primarily due to preventable chronic
diseases, CVS Health saw an opportunity to tailor its Health
Zones initiative in Phoenix
to address the high levels of diabetes and hypertension. The CVS
Health Foundation is investing $2.1
million over three years between Valleywise Health, Home
Assist Health and Advance to support integrated diabetes
management services, including home health and monitoring,
medically tailored food boxes and educational resources. By
encouraging this more connected, coordinated use of resources
between each Health Zone organization, the company aims to help
simplify a complex care navigation process and bridge a critical
gap in the health care and social systems.
"We believe that the right resources can transform health
outcomes for individuals, families, and communities, greatly
reducing or eliminating generational health inequities for improved
quality of life for patients in the Greater South Phoenix community," said Dr.
Michelle Barker, Senior Vice
President of Ambulatory Services and Chief Executive Officer of
FQHC, Valleywise Health. "This visionary investment from CVS Health
will allow our clinical teams and valued community partners, Home
Assist Health and Advance, to wrap our arms around our most
vulnerable patients and provide them with the care, education and
resources they need to live healthy lives."
Collaborating to educate the community about air
pollution
One in three Americans lives in a community with
unhealthy air levels, and Phoenix
ranks among the most polluted cities in the U.S. for ozone and
particulate pollution. Through a new collaboration with the
American Lung Association, CVS Health is investing $3.5 million over four years nationwide to combat
this health issue and will pilot it first in Phoenix. The company will distribute nearly
$1 million of the $3.5 million project to support Phoenix health care providers and
organizations working to expand educational resources, increase
access to care and supportive services for individuals with lung
disease and leverage local air quality data to raise awareness of
where pollution is most concentrated. The Phoenix health care providers and
organizations will be named in April.
"Every day, we work with people whose lung health has been
impacted by climate change," said Harold
Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association.
"It is critical to address this in the communities that are seeing
the greatest impact, like Phoenix,
and we're thankful to be working with the CVS Health Foundation on
this innovative project to improve the health of people in
Phoenix who are living with lung
disease."
Increasing access to mental health and free screening
services
CVS Health also recently awarded a $100,000 grant over two years to support the
Phoenix Indian Center's efforts to fund its Suicide-Safer
Communities project, which will expand its suicide prevention
services for Native Americans living in Phoenix. As studies continue to show that
suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States, bolstering the Phoenix
Indian Center's efforts is part of the company's continued
commitment to supporting organizations that improve the quality and
availability of mental health services in under-resourced
communities.
In addition to these new grants, CVS Health will offer free
health screenings to the Phoenix
community through its Project Health program, starting in
March. Project Health mobile unit events are hosted at CVS Pharmacy
parking lots and a vast network of local organizations to help
ensure transportation is not a barrier to receiving health
services. They offer free biometric screenings, including blood
pressure, cholesterol, glucose level and body mass index to detect
early risks of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension
and heart disease. The screenings also offer a PHQ-2 assessment to
help identify people who require additional evaluation for
depression. All individuals have an on-site consult with a nurse
practitioner and are provided a directory of local health care
providers and resources. In 2023, CVS Health hosted 109 events
in Phoenix and screened 2,814
participants, including 1,022 depression, 715 osteoporosis bone
density, 581 mini-cognitive and 126 smoking cessation
consultations. The full schedule of Project Health events can be
found online.
"A person's zip code shouldn't determine how long they'll live
or whether they'll develop preventable chronic diseases," said
Phoenix Councilwoman Laura Pastor.
"That's why I'm proud of the over $3
million investment CVS Health is making over the next three
years to support diabetes management services and increase access
to care and education for individuals with lung diseases throughout
Phoenix. As someone who has always
advocated for equitable access to health care, I am impressed by
the commitment CVS Health continues to show the community by
removing barriers and meeting people where they're at to deliver
health care."
About CVS Health
CVS Health® is the leading health
solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach
more people and improve the health of communities across America
through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000
dedicated colleagues — including more than 40,000 physicians,
pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever
people need us, we help them with their health — whether that's
managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications
or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most
convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system —
and their personal health care — by improving access, lowering
costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of
health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow
@CVSHealth on social media.
Media contacts
Courtney Tavener
401-712-3698
Courtney.Tavener@CVSHealth.com
Monica Prinzing
831-241-8294
Monica.Prinzing@CVSHealth.com
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SOURCE CVS Health