CVS Health's decision in September 2014 to stop carrying tobacco products is helping the company land more partnerships with hospitals and health systems, as well as some undisclosed relationships, according to Forbes.
CVS ended 2014 with 49 health system affiliations and bumped this number to 51 after adding clinical affiliations with LSU Healthcare Network in New Orleans and Shawnee Mission Health in Shawnee Mission, Kan., in January. In comparison, Walgreens Boots Alliance has "more than 20" alliances with health systems, according to the report.
Some of these clinical affiliations allow health system patients to access CVS medication counseling, chronic disease monitoring and wellness programs, the report stated.
Larry Merlo, CVS Health CEO, told analysts that partnerships with health systems help expand the company's platform to conveniently and cost effectively support primary care.
"There is clearly a halo effect that I see from our clients that makes them feel good about potentially doing business with the company that has taken a stand like that in the marketplace," Jon Roberts, president of CVS' pharmacy benefit management business told Forbes.