CVS Pharmacy Encourages Patients to Pick Up Medications and Supplies in Advance of Hurricane Harvey

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Aug. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Harvey approaches the Texas coast, CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health (NYSE:CVS), is reminding patients to make sure they take care of their prescription needs before the storm hits.

"In light of the hurricane warnings and evacuation orders now in effect along the Texas coast, CVS Pharmacy is urging patients to visit our stores before the storm makes landfall, to ensure that they have the medications they need to ride out the storm," said Kevin Hourican, Executive Vice President, Retail Pharmacy and Supply Chain for CVS Health. "CVS Pharmacy has been proactively reaching out to our pharmacy patients via text message and email to remind them to refill prescriptions before the severe weather hits."

Patients who live in areas that are expected to be affected by the storm, and who have opted in to CVS Pharmacy's automated notification programs, may receive automated phone calls, text messages, and mobile app notifications, depending on the status of their current prescriptions. These messages can help patients in several ways, including letting them know when their prescription is ready to be picked up, reminding them that their prescription is ready to be refilled, and informing patients where they can pick up their medications during emergency situations. To further help patients, CVS Pharmacy has also been working with insurers to allow for early prescription refills in certain cases.

"CVS Pharmacy and CVS Caremark, our pharmacy benefit management business, have activated a process that allows pharmacists to provide one-time emergency refills of a 10-day supply of medication for plan members impacted in the areas affected by Hurricane Harvey," said Hourican.

CVS Pharmacy is stocking stores with emergency items, such as bottled water, batteries, flashlights and first aid supplies and offers customers the following tips:

• Create a plan for evacuating and finding a safe destination.
• Store all medications, along with a written record of current prescriptions, in a waterproof container. This is especially important for people taking multiple prescriptions. Medical equipment, batteries or power cords, eyeglasses and hearing aids are important to keep on hand as well.
• In the event of an emergency, find a pharmacy nearby to fill necessary prescriptions. CVS Pharmacy can fill its customers' prescriptions at any of its 9,700 locations nationwide, including the more than 800 locations in Texas.
• Create an emergency kit and make sure you have all essentials in case of power outages. CVS Pharmacy carries all of the critical items needed including bottled water, masking tape, flashlights and batteries.
• For a full list of tips on being prepared for a hurricane, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency's website, https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

To find a CVS Pharmacy near you, visit the store locator at http://www.cvs.com/.

CVS Pharmacy and the CVS Health Foundation are working with non-profit partners, first responders, elected officials and government agencies along the Texas coast to identify the critical supplies and support they may need to help with relief and recovery efforts.

About CVS Pharmacy

CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), is America's leading retail pharmacy with over 9,700 locations. It is the first national pharmacy to end the sale of tobacco and the first pharmacy in the nation to receive the Community Pharmacy accreditation from URAC, the leading health care accreditation organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. CVS Pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy to help people on their path to better health by providing the most accessible and personalized expertise, both in its stores and online at CVS.com. General information about CVS Pharmacy and CVS Health is available at www.cvshealth.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Amy Lanctot
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401-770-2931

SOURCE CVS Pharmacy

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