MinuteClinic Becomes Participating Provider With Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma

MinuteClinic Becomes Participating Provider With Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Oklahoma

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- MinuteClinic, the pioneer and largest
provider of retail health care in the United States, announced that it has
become a participating provider with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma,
the state's oldest and largest private health insurer.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma provides health care benefit plans for
more than 600,000 Oklahomans. Those members will now have access to
MinuteClinic health care centers located inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in
the Oklahoma City market.

"This is an important development in the growth of our business in Oklahoma as
we expand access to care to thousands of new customers," said Andrew Sussman,
MD, MinuteClinic President and Chief Operating Officer. "By offering high
quality treatment in a convenient setting, we can work with Blue Cross and
Blue Shield of Oklahoma to help reduce health care insurance expenses for its
members as well as time spent away from members' families and the workplace."

MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by nurse practitioners who
specialize in family health care and are trained to diagnose, treat and write
prescriptions for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye,
sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions and joint
sprains are treated, and common vaccinations such as influenza, tetanus, MMR,
and Hepatitis A & B are available at all locations. In addition, MinuteClinic
administers a series of wellness services designed to help consumers identify
lifestyle changes needed to improve their current and future health, including
screenings for diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

MinuteClinic nurse practitioners utilize nationally recognized medical
protocols to diagnose and treat health conditions. With the patient's consent,
treatment information is shared with his or her primary care physician to
facilitate continuity of care. In addition, patients can also download their
MinuteClinic visit summary to an electronic personal health record.

In Oklahoma, MinuteClinic health care centers are open seven days a week with
extended weekday evening hours. No appointment is necessary.

About MinuteClinic
Minneapolis-based MinuteClinic is a subsidiary of CVS Caremark Corporation
(NYSE: CVS), the No. 1 provider of prescriptions and related health care
services in the nation. MinuteClinic launched the first retail health care
centers in the United States in 2000 and is the first provider to establish a
national presence with about 500 locations in 25 states. By creating a health
care delivery model that responds to consumer demand, MinuteClinic makes
access to high-quality medical treatment easier for more Americans. The
company has generated more than 5 million patient visits, with a 95 percent
customer satisfaction rating. A recognized leader in the patient-centric
health care movement, MinuteClinic consistently brings innovation to the
marketplace and sets new standards for clinical quality that exceed the
national guidelines established for store-based clinics by the American
Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Family Physicians
(AAFP). MinuteClinic is the first retail health care provider to receive
accreditation from The Joint Commission, the national evaluation and
certifying agency for nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in
the United States. For more information, visit www.MinuteClinic.com.

SOURCE MinuteClinic

Brent Burkhardt for MinuteClinic, +1-410-986-1303, bburkhardt@tbc.us, or
Christine Cramer for CVS Caremark, +1-401-770-3317, ckcramer@cvs.com