[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING CVS HEALTH FOR RECEIVING THE PREVENT CANCER FOUNDATION'S 
                         CANCER AWARENESS AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, today CVS Health received the Excellence 
in Cancer Awareness Award at the Twenty-Second Annual Action for Cancer 
Awareness Awards Luncheon. The annual award was given by the 
Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program of the Prevent Cancer 
Foundation to CVS Health for their commitment to health by taking 
tobacco products off their shelves. Dr. Andrew Sussman accepted the 
award on behalf of CVS Health and I want to commend him, and CVS 
Health, for their commitment to prevent cancer and improving the health 
of every American by removing tobacco from their stores.

                       Prevent Cancer Foundation


Award Acceptance/Recognition Receipt Remarks for CVS Health--Andrew J. 
  Sussman, MD, President CVS/MinuteClinic, SVP and Associate CMO, CVS 
                                 Health

       Thank you very much. I'm very happy to be able to join you 
     all today and am honored to accept this wonderful recognition 
     on behalf of CVS Health.
       As you may have heard, we recently marked an important 
     milestone in the history of our company. We officially 
     changed our corporate name to CVS Health.
       We made this change to reflect our broader health care 
     commitment.
       And along with the start of CVS Health, we also ended the 
     sale of all cigarettes and tobacco products at CVS/pharmacy 
     nationwide.
       By removing these items from our store shelves, we believe 
     we can make a difference in the health of all Americans.
       In fact, there's evidence that removing tobacco products 
     from retailers with pharmacies may lead to substantially 
     lower rates of smoking with implications for reducing 
     tobacco-related deaths.
       A recent CVS Health study found that there was up to a 13 
     percent reduction in purchasers of tobacco products in Boston 
     and San Francisco AFTER policies eliminating the sale of 
     tobacco products at retailers with pharmacies were put in 
     place.
       If retailers with pharmacies across the country were to 
     forego sales of tobacco products, the result could be up to 
     60,000 fewer tobacco-related deaths annually.
       Along with removing tobacco-related products from our 
     stores, we also launched a national smoking cessation 
     campaign to help millions of Americans to quit smoking.
       We know that 7 in 10 people who smoke want to quit.
       We also know that for most people it will take several 
     tries before they are successful.
       That's why, with help from national experts, we designed 
     the CVS Health smoking cessation program.
       We've combined the efforts of CVS/pharmacy, CVS/
     minuteclinic and CVS/caremark to come up with a comprehensive 
     program that will help smokers to quit.
       The program is made of up four components--Readiness 
     assessment, Education, Medication Support, and Coaching.
       For example, at our 925 walk-in medical clinics called CVS/
     minuteclinic, our ``Start to Stop'' program puts all four of 
     these support components into action.
       Our Nurse Practitioners begin with an assessment to create 
     a customized treatment plan.
       They then provide ongoing education and support to meet the 
     individual needs of smokers who are trying to quit.
       Our team also provides an overview of medication options 
     and, if appropriate, can prescribe medication.
       And finally, our Nurse Practitioners provide face-to-face 
     personalized coaching to help patients keep the momentum 
     going and avoid relapse.
       This is another example of how CVS/minuteclinic is 
     expanding access to walk-in health care seven days a week, as 
     part of the changing health care landscape.
       MinuteClinic is also affiliated with 41 major health 
     systems around the country--and growing--affiliations that 
     include integration of electronic medical records, physician 
     medical director collaboration, and collaboration on wellness 
     programs such as smoking cessation.
       As we have placed a growing emphasis on our purpose as a 
     health care organization, we've been truly humbled by the 
     outpouring of encouragement and support we've received since 
     announcing the removal of cigarettes and tobacco products 
     from our stores.
       It's come from all corners . . . from our customers and 
     colleagues, public health advocates, elected officials and 
     the media.
       And we are particularly thankful for today's recognition 
     from the Prevent Cancer Foundation--a group that has been 
     truly at the forefront of cancer prevention since it was 
     founded, nearly 30 years ago.
       I hope through our efforts, along with the work of groups 
     like yours, we can help more Americans embark on their path 
     to better health.
       Thank you again for this wonderful honor.

                          ____________________