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CVS deal to speed mini-clinic proliferation

By MARK ALBRIGHT
Published July 14, 2006

CVS Corp. has upped its bet on the spread of inexpensive mini-clinics tucked inside retail stores that are beginning to appear across Florida.

The drugstore giant has struck a deal to acquire MinuteClinics, the Minneapolis chain that pioneered the industry six years ago. While both sides declined to reveal a price, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported it's about $170-million for the chain of 83 clinics in 10 states. MinuteClinics plans to have 250 outlets by the end of this year.

The CVS purchase is expected to accelerate that growth pace of tiny 75-square-foot MinuteClinics that are found most frequently inside CVS stores and Target discount stores.

Other big retail chains including Walgreens are choosing sides in the emerging industry of neighborhood clinics staffed by a lone nurse practitioner. Publix Super Markets Inc. recently struck a deal with Little Clinics of Louisville, Ky. A Wal-Mart Supercenter in New Tampa houses a Quick Quality Care Center. Other chains being tested around the country include RediClinic and TakeCare Health Systems Inc.

Created to handle routine cases such as sinus infections, administer some types of shots and treat minor ailments, the bare-bones, no-appointment-required clinics typically charge less than $50 an office visit. Nurse practitioners can prescribe many drugs under the supervision of an on-call physician. The Florida Medical Association, the state doctors' lobby, engaged in a turf war over the clinics' role in the health care system during the past two sessions of the Legislature.

Mark Albright can be reached at albright@sptimes.com or 727 893-8252.

[Last modified July 14, 2006, 01:16:53]