WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Corp. has expanded its partnership with Microsoft HealthVault to allow retail pharmacy customers to download prescription histories.

The drug store chain said Tuesday that by visiting CVS.com, customers who fill their prescriptions at CVS/pharmacy stores can now securely add their prescription history into their personal HealthVault record.

CVS Caremark said it has been a partner with Microsoft HealthVault since June 2008. The arrangement has enabled consumers using CVS Caremark pharmacy benefit management services to store, organize and manage their prescription information online via the HealthVault platform. Patients treated at MinuteClinic retail health clinics also have been able to import their visit summaries and laboratory test results into their HealthVault record.

With the latest move, customers of all three channels now can download health information into HealthVault, according to the company.

"All of the consumers we serve — whether they are CVS/pharmacy customers, CVS Caremark plan participants or visitors to our MinuteClinic locations — can now easily download their prescription history into their Microsoft HealthVault record," Helena Foulkes, executive vice president at CVS Caremark, said in a statement.

"By enabling patients to download their prescription information directly into their personal HealthVault record, we are helping them access and maintain a more complete view of their medication history, one that can easily be shared and discussed with the health care providers who are managing their overall health," she added.

David Cerino, general manager of consumer health for Microsoft’s Health Solutions Group, explained that the expanded partnership will allow more people to manage prescription information for themselves and their families. "This not only helps consumers take better control of their medication plans but also enables individuals to provide their physicians with visibility to their prescription history for better coordination of care," he stated.

To use the HealthVault tool, CVS/pharmacy customers must first go to CVS.com to sign up for the Prescription Management feature, which allows registered customers to manage their prescriptions online, including ordering refills, choosing pickup locations, requesting prescription renewals and receiving alerts on generic alternatives. Also, to maintain patient privacy, consumers making the request for information will need to be authenticated on CVS.com before any data is shared with HealthVault, the company said.