Larry J. Merlo

President and Chief Executive Officer
CVS Caremark

Reinventing Pharmacy: Expanding the
Front Lines of Health Care

Larry J. Merlo, president and chief executive officer of CVS Caremark, spoke June 5 at the Chief Executives’ Club of Boston about the evolution of the U.S. health care system and how “pharmacy care can make a big difference in the health, the well-being, and the financial outlook of our country.” Karen Kaplan, president of Hill Holiday, introduced Merlo.

TAKEAWAYS

“Fewer than one-half of patients take their doses as prescribed, and three out of four people stop taking their medication within the first year of beginning therapy ... Non-adherence is driving unnecessary medical costs across our health care system.”
TRANSCRIPT AND VIDEO »

“10,000 ... baby boomers [become] eligible for Medicare every day—often referred to as the Silver Tsunami. Not only does this mean over 16 million new Medicare eligibles by 2019, it also means a long-term increase in demand for services and the use of medications.”
TRANSCRIPT AND VIDEO »

“Pharmacy has the potential to extend the front lines of health care, to deliver better outcomes at lower cost to the people that we serve.”
TRANSCRIPT AND VIDEO »

“We do not advocate for or believe that the family physician is going away, or should go away. In fact, we see our [role] as complementary and collaborative with primary care medical homes, and helpful to the system.”
TRANSCRIPT AND VIDEO »

PRESS COVERAGE

Reuters: “Walgreen sales dip, contract exit still helps CVS” ARTICLE »

Boston Globe: “Chief says CVS’s clinics can help control costs” ARTICLE »

Boston Business Journal: “CVS doesn't want to replace your doctor–yet” ARTICLE »

Boston Herald: “CVS Caremark CEO: Prescription non-adherence costs U.S. $300B” ARTICLE »

Event Photos