CVS Caremark partners with Google on the launch of Google Health

CVS Caremark, Walgreens, and others have announced a partnership with Google Health, a new product launched by Google, which allows users to securely store, organize, and manage their medical records and healthcare information online. This partnership will facilitate and enhance communications between consumers and healthcare providers by providing individuals with secure access to their medication history and personal care information. By integrating on the Google Health platform, patients who receive treatment at MinuteClinic, the retail-based health clinic subsidiary of CVS Caremark, will be able to securely import their visit summaries into their Google Health accounts. This function will be immediately available to MinuteClinic patients in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn., and will roll out nationally to the more than 500 MinuteClinic locations in 25 states during the course of the next several weeks. In addition, within the next several months, consumers who fill their prescriptions at a CVS/pharmacy or have prescription coverage from CVS Caremark will also be able to securely import their prescription and medication histories into Google Health. In the case of Walgreen, the chain plans to link patients' Walgreens.com pharmacy information with their Google Health account on their request.

In a separate, but related development, RxAmerica, a leading pharmacy benefit manager announced its participation as an integration partner in the new Google Health product. Using the new integrated service, eligible RxAmerica members can securely import their prescription history in their Google Health accounts. RxAmerica's Medicare Part D membership will be the only group participating in the initial Google service through the integration. Additional clients will be phased into the program based on product performance and associated call volume.

Besides CVS Caremark, Walgreens, and RxAmerica, other companies are partnering with Google Health, including Longs Drug Stores, Quest Diagnostics, Medco, and others.

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