CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) has named Dr. Amar Desai as its first president of care delivery, a newly created role responsible for overseeing the company’s clinical delivery strategy across both retail health and CVS Health behavioral health services. This move highlights CVS Health’s growing commitment to expanding access to high-quality mental health care for its members and consumers.
Dr. Desai brings decades of leadership experience in healthcare. He most recently served as president and CEO of Optum Pacific West and previously held roles as CEO of Keck Medicine of USC and president of HealthCarePartners. Throughout his career, he has focused on integrating clinical excellence with operational efficiency, particularly in value-based care models that prioritize patient outcomes over volume. “CVS Health is uniquely positioned to change the way that consumers receive, pay for and experience their care,” Desai said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the CVS Health management team as we continue to deliver new solutions to improve outcomes for the people we serve.”
CVS Health President and CEO Karen S. Lynch emphasized that Desai’s expertise in clinical delivery and value-based care will help the company advance its strategy for CVS Health behavioral health and retail care. “This new organization will leverage the strength of the CVS Health portfolio to develop and implement payor-agnostic products and services,” Lynch said. By combining pharmacy services, retail clinics, virtual care, and health plan resources, CVS Health is uniquely positioned to deliver a seamless care experience.
Expanding CVS Health Behavioral Health Initiatives
In 2021, CVS Health piloted a behavioral health program at 34 HealthHUB locations to provide greater access to social workers. This initiative supported both insured and uninsured patients by connecting insured individuals to in-network resources and directing uninsured patients to community-based services. Programs like this are part of CVS Health’s broader vision to integrate mental health care into everyday healthcare touchpoints.
These pilot programs have been designed not just to increase access but to reduce stigma around seeking behavioral health support. By placing social workers in familiar, community-centered locations like HealthHUBs, CVS Health is helping people feel more comfortable seeking help and more confident that their needs will be addressed in a coordinated way. The emphasis on both insured and uninsured patients also highlights CVS Health’s focus on equity, ensuring vulnerable populations receive attention and care.
To further expand access, CVS Health is launching mental health and primary care services through the CVS Health Virtual Platform. This platform will be available to Aetna members starting in January and CVS Caremark members in the second quarter of 2023. Partnering with telehealth company Amwell, CVS is leveraging technology to provide patients with convenient access to clinicians, removing barriers such as transportation challenges, long wait times, or limited local mental health resources. This virtual approach complements in-person care and ensures members can receive timely attention, especially for mild to moderate conditions, ongoing therapy, or routine follow-ups.
Strategic Acquisition of Signify Health
CVS Health’s acquisition of Signify Health for approximately $8 billion demonstrates a strategic investment in improving healthcare delivery and mental health transparency. Signify Health specializes in in-home evaluations, capturing over 200 data points related to physical and mental health. While the company is not solely focused on behavioral health, its insights allow clinicians and health plans to identify gaps in care that might otherwise go unnoticed.
These in-home visits are particularly valuable for populations with limited mobility, chronic conditions, or difficulty accessing traditional healthcare settings. By sharing the collected data with primary care providers and health plans, Signify Health enables timely interventions that can prevent small issues from becoming major crises. Once the acquisition is finalized, CVS Health and Aetna anticipate enhanced insights into members’ behavioral health needs, which will allow for more proactive, personalized care.
Dr. Amar Desai’s Role in Advancing CVS Health Behavioral Health
As president of care delivery, Dr. Desai will guide the company’s clinical strategy for both retail and virtual care. His expertise in value-based care and operational leadership is expected to drive innovation in CVS Health behavioral health, making services more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered. Under his leadership, CVS Health is likely to explore innovative approaches such as integrated care teams, predictive analytics to identify patients at risk, and streamlined care coordination across multiple touchpoints.
These efforts come at a time when mental health care access is critical, and many Americans face barriers to timely treatment. By combining insights from in-person retail care, virtual platforms, and Signify Health’s in-home evaluations, CVS Health is creating a multi-channel delivery model that addresses both acute and preventive care needs.
Looking Ahead
With Dr. Desai at the helm, the launch of the CVS Health Virtual Platform, and the acquisition of Signify Health, CVS Health is positioning itself as a leader in accessible, integrated, and technology-driven CVS Health behavioral health care. The combination of retail clinics, virtual services, and in-home evaluations reflects a comprehensive approach to patient care that prioritizes both convenience and quality.
By embedding behavioral health into its broader care delivery strategy, CVS Health is creating opportunities for better patient outcomes, enhanced member engagement, and more transparent care management. These initiatives underscore the company’s commitment to innovation and demonstrate how CVS Health behavioral health services can evolve to meet the needs of today’s consumers, offering a model that other healthcare organizations may seek to emulate.
