CVS Health is expanding its CarePass program, which offers benefits such as no-cost one- or two-day delivery for prescriptions and access to a 24/7 pharmacist hotline, to all qualifying customers throughout the United States, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

• Maryland: The American Lung Association on Monday announced it is awarding $6.45 million in grants to 64 different research projects. One grant recipient is Gregg Duncan, from the University of Maryland College Park, who is developing a nanotechnology diagnostic tool that monitors physical changes in mucus associated with obstructive lung disease (Park, Becker's Health IT & CIO Report, 8/5).

• Pennsylvania: Butler Health System has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Clarion Healthcare System. The move comes after the two health systems in February announced that they had signed a letter of intent to merge. The health systems now need regulatory approvals from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General to complete their planned merger (Gough, Pittsburgh Business Times, 8/2).

• Rhode Island: CVS Health is expanding its CarePass program, which offers benefits like no-cost one- or two-day delivery for prescriptions and access to a 24/7 pharmacist hotline, to all qualifying customers throughout the United States. The program—which CVS has been piloting in the Boston area—costs members $5 a month or $48 annually and is offered to customers who already are signed up for CVS' ExtraCare Rewards Card (Truong, MedCity News, 8/5).