CVS Caremark launched a free iPhone app this week that lets anyone with an iPhone look up drug information in its database, but if the user is a CVS Caremark PBM (pharmacy benefits manager) member the app gets much more useful. Once "logged-in securely" to their existing Caremark account, users can refill prescriptions, check prescription order status, view prescription history, check drug cost, find a nearby network pharmacy, and FastStart, which enables users to request a new prescription from their iPhone.

I wonder how users of the new CVS Caremark iPhone app log in to their accounts "securely" from their iPhones?

It's also curious that CVS Caremark launched this app exclusively for iPhone users, especially considering it's much smaller PBM competitor Walgreens recently launched a text message powered service for prescription reminders (which means the vast majority of its customers can take advantage of the mobile health service), and also relaunched their iPhone app and mobile browser optimized website: m.walgreens.com.

While I can't find a similar text message powered service for CVS Caremark customers on the company's site, they do make it clear that their website is mobile browser optimized too and enables users of any browser equipped phone to perform the same tasks that the new CVS Caremark iPhone app enables.

PBMs going mobile: A fast-moving trend worth keeping an eye on.

More from the CVS Caremark release here.