MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MinuteClinic, billed as the largest provider of retail health care in the United States, has become a participating provider in all insurance plans offered by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Minneapolis-based MinuteClinic has been a participating provider for CareFirst's preferred provider and federal employee plans in Maryland. Nearly 3.4 million CareFirst members now have in-network access to MinuteClinic healthcare centers located inside select CVS pharmacy stores in Maryland and portions of northern Virginia in the CareFirst service area.

"This is an important development in the growth of our business in Maryland and northern Virginia as we expand access to care to new customers," said Chip Phillips, MinuteClinic's president. "By offering high quality treatment in a convenient setting, we are working with CareFirst to help reduce healthcare insurance expenses for its members as well as time spent away from members' families and the workplace."

MinuteClinic healthcare centers are staffed by Masters-prepared, board-certified nurse practitioners who specialize in family healthcare and are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections.