CVS Health has chosen Rush University System for Health to coordinate care for Medicare beneficiaries at Chicagoland MinuteClinic locations, the companies announced Monday.
CVS Health's accountable care organization division and the Chicago-based health system are participating in the Medicare ACO Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health, or ACO REACH, program.
As part of the ACO venture, MinuteClinic providers will connect patients to Rush clinicians for follow-up primary and specialty care, according to the companies. CVS Health's ACOs include independent providers, community health health centers and clinically integrated networks, Mohamed Diab, CEO of the company's ACO division, said in a statement.
“Rush’s geographic reach and deep roots in a very important market as well as their alignment on the ACO REACH mission to address health equity and disparity issues and bring value-based care to Medicare [fee-for-service] beneficiaries are additional important reasons we chose Rush,” Diab said. CVS Health CEO Karen Lynch has said the company seeks to acquire primary care provider.
Rush Medicare patients seeking care at participating MinuteClinic sites will also have access to customized care, including home-based services, transportation support and financial assistance, according to the news release.
“Teaming up with CVS, we’ll be able to help patients down a path where their local, community MinuteClinic is connected to their primary care, as well as specialty care if and when they might need it. ... Short- and long-term, you will see an expanding Rush geographic footprint and increased accessibility to Rush through expanded digital offerings,” Dr. Paul Casey, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Rush, said in a statement.
Jon Asplund of Crain's Chicago Business contributed to this story.
