CVS Taps New Chief Medical Officer As Primary Care Takes Off

CVS Well being promoted Dr. Sree Chaguturu to be the corporate’s high doctor because the retail drugstore chain and medical insurance big emphasizes the significance of major care.

Chaguturu, who’s 44 years previous, is now the chief vp and chief medical officer reporting to CVS president and chief government officer Karen S. Lynch and can “be answerable for advancing the best potential scientific high quality requirements, rising entry to care, enhancing affected person outcomes and decreasing total well being care prices throughout the enterprise,” the corporate mentioned in saying Chaguturu’s promotion Tuesday. He replaces Troyen Brennan who retired.

Chaguturu, who was beforehand chief medical officer for the corporate’s pharmacy profit administration (PBM) enterprise, CVS Caremark, will now oversee an array of medical affairs for the Aetna medical insurance enterprise, CVS Caremark, CVS Pharmacy, MinuteClinic, ladies’s well being and genomics, affected person security, well being fairness, knowledge and analytics, the corporate mentioned.

“Since becoming a member of CVS Well being in 2019, Sree has been an influential and revered scientific chief, serving as a trusted advisor for purchasers, members, and colleagues,” Lynch mentioned. “He performed a essential function within the firm’s pandemic response, together with main Return Prepared, our employer COVID-19 testing and vaccination providing.”

CVS, which is already recognized for its MinuteClinics staffed by nurse practitioners, shall be broadening its technique right into a “nationally-scaled subsequent technology major care mannequin,” firm executives mentioned final December on the firm’s annual investor day.

CVS has already been engaged on an enhanced model of its HealthHUB places which dedicate greater than 20% of the shop to well being providers that embrace new sturdy medical tools, provides and varied new product and repair combos. CVS can also be including 1000’s of latest private care gadgets in addition to further providers at its MinuteClinics within the well being hub shops.

The strikes come as CVS rivals Walgreens Boots Alliance and Walmart push deeper into healthcare providers, increasing obtainable gadgets of their shops and including major care providers to their shops. Walgreens final yr invested one other $5.2 billion in VillageMD to escalate the enlargement of doctor-staffed clinics throughout the U.S. beneath a brand new “Walgreens Well being” enterprise.

CVS executives consider they’ve the mannequin that can proceed to draw extra clients.

“CVS Well being is uniquely positioned to construct upon its current capabilities and intensive attain to enhance the well being care expertise for thousands and thousands of individuals,” Chaguturu mentioned within the assertion saying his new function. “Our exceptionally proficient Medical Affairs group will assist align, combine and improve our well being care providers and belongings to assist deal with the wants that exist in our well being care system right now.”