WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has launched its annual Project Health wellness campaign, an initiative that will deliver more than $15 million worth of free health services to multicultural communities across the United States in 2014.

From January through March, more than 350 Project Health events will be held at select CVS/pharmacy retail locations in 15 markets: Atlanta; Chicago; Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Dallas-Fort Worth; Detroit; Houston; Los Angeles; Miami, Orlando and Tampa, Fla.; New York City; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C.. Project Health events will also be held at selected CVS/pharmacy stores in Puerto Rico in March and April.

Project Health offers an array of free comprehensive health risk assessments, including blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), glucose and total cholesterol screenings. Children seven years old and older may participate in screenings with parental consent.

Project Health events will also offer participants’ information on the health insurance marketplace and their coverage options under the new health care law. Health insurance experts will be available at many events to provide guidance and support to those who need it. Open enrollment for the health insurance marketplace closes March 31.

“Ninety percent of the people who attended our Project Health screenings in the fall told us they found the health insurance experts at these events to be extremely helpful. For that reason, we decided to offer this resource again in early 2014,” said Helena Foulkes, president of CVS/pharmacy. “We are focused on helping our customers make informed decisions about their health care and will continue to do so as the new health care marketplace is rolled out.”

Project Health is part of CVS/pharmacy’s commitment to improve access to health care and ensure that cost is not a barrier to important preventive services. Project Health events, while held in cities with large multicultural populations, are open to everyone and do not require an appointment.

“The free, comprehensive health screenings offered at our Project Health events give our customers the opportunity to access vital health care services at times and locations that are convenient for them and can help identify health concerns or risk factors that they may be unaware of,” added Foulkes.

Once patients are screened, CVS/pharmacy will help them through on-site consultations with bilingual (Spanish/English) nurse practitioners or physician assistants who will analyze results and refer patients who require additional medical attention to no-cost or low-cost medical facilities nearby or to their primary care physician for additional follow-up care. CVS pharmacists will be available to conduct one-on-one medication reviews and answer any questions patients may have.

About 155,000 people received free health screenings at Project Health events held in 2013. Among findings from last year: 51% were found to be overweight or obese, 41% had abnormal blood pressure readings, and 32% had abnormal glucose readings. In addition, 41% were found to have abnormal cholesterol levels, and 11% had risk factors for osteoporosis.