First of CVS Pharmacies within Target stores open in North Carolina

CVS Health Corp. and Target Corp. announced Wednesday that the first CVS Pharmacy locations in Target stores are now open in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS Heath will transform 1,672 Target pharmacies across 47 states into CVS Pharmacy locations over the next six to eight months, CVS Health said Wednesday in a statement.

Pharmacies in Target will eventually provide all the services available at traditional CVS Pharmacy locations, according to the statement. Patients using pharmacies in Target stores now have access to Maintenance Choice, a program allowing CVS Caremark plan members to fill 90-day supplies of prescriptions through mail service at pharmacy locations.

Additionally, CVS Pharmacy's Specialty Connect program, which allows patients to bring their specialty prescriptions to any CVS Pharmacy will be available to patients as Target pharmacies convert. The Pharmacy Advisor program, which provides counseling to CVS Caremark plan members diagnosed with chronic conditions, will be available at CVS Pharmacy locations in Target by the end of 2016, according to the statement.

Target pharmacy customers will also have access to digital tools to help manage prescriptions.

CVS Health completed its $1.9 billion acquisition of Target's pharmacy and clinic business in December after proposing the deal in June.

“We're thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce our integrated pharmacy services and health care expertise to Target guests across the country,” CVS Health President and CEO Larry Merlo said in the statement. “Our pharmacy care and clinic offerings, along with our innovative digital tools, will offer Target guests expanded wellness options and increased access to care. In addition, having CVS Pharmacy in Target stores will expand the network of our pharmacies available to our CVS Caremark plan members and allow millions of new patients to utilize our unique suite of pharmacy programs, improving outcomes for patients and lowering costs for clients.”