Will CVS Close Pasadena MinuteClinics?

CVS Health announced on Tuesday, January 30 that it will close 25 MinuteClinic locations in Southern California by February 25.

In its statement, the company did not specify which clinics would be closing or how many jobs would be affected by these closures.

CVS currently operates four MinuteClinics inside pharmacies in Pasadena, located at:

• 20 E Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena 91103

• 3033 Huntington Dr, Pasadena 91107

• 451 S Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena 91107

• 727 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena 91105

CVS described the decision as difficult, which it said was made to support future growth and design the next evolution of community health destinations.

The MinuteClinics, staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants, offer a range of quick healthcare options for children and adults, including vaccinations, treatment of minor wounds and joint sprains, sports and camp physicals, health screenings, TB testing, and programs to lose weight and stop smoking.

The company said it plans to offer clinical team members different opportunities within the company, and those who cannot find a new role will be offered severance benefits.

CVS Health will continue operating 11 MinuteClinic locations in the region and will also provide a virtual practice with on-demand care available all week, including evenings.

This move is part of CVS Health’s cost-cutting efforts, including closing dozens of its locations inside Target discount stores in mid-January. The company had warned investors in August 2023 about rising expenses in its pharmacy and insurance businesses that would impact profit over the next two years.

Despite these closures, CVS Health has focused on its growth strategy, emphasizing care coordination and chronic disease management, IT, and home health. The company’s healthcare delivery businesses are projected to grow at a double-digit rate through at least 2028.