News
Caremark Directing Patients to Selected Pharmacies
You can report your experience to Attorney Generals Office: PH: 304 558-8986
Friday, May 28, 2010
To Selected WV Pharmacies:
WVPA has been informed by pharmacists of patients being instructed by Caremark to go to a selected pharmacy or purchase their prescriptions drugs from a selected mail order operation.
WVPA is undertaking efforts to resolve this issue, and assistance is needed from pharmacies to substantiate these potentially illegal activities.
WV Pharmacy Practice Law, which regulates pharmacists and pharmacies, prohibits a pharmacist or pharmacy from participating in a prescription drug program whereby they are promoted or offered as the exclusive provider of prescription drug products or whereby in any way the public is denied, limited or influenced in selecting pharmaceutical service or counseling. Violation of this law is grounds for suspension or revocation of a pharmacist’s license or pharmacy’s registration, and imposition of a fine up to $1,000 for each offense, according to the Law.
It appears the selected pharmacy to which consumers are being “steered to” has agreed to be the exclusive provider of prescription drugs and it is certainly evident the public is being denied access to pharmacies of their choice and limited where they can obtain pharmaceutical services or counseling.
WVPA and several pharmacists met with leaders of the Senate, House of Delegates and attorneys for the Legislature at the Capitol last Friday to report and discuss this issue. Contact was also made with the consumer protection attorney in the Attorney General’s office. The government officials and attorneys requested evidence of incidents whereby consumers were instructed to go to selected pharmacies or mail order.
Therefore, pharmacists are requested to send to WVPA copies of communications they have available to them wherein a person is directed to go to another pharmacy or to mail order for their prescription drugs. Pharmacists are requested to send this information to WVPA after blocking out any HIPAA information. This information will be given appropriate
government officials for their use in pursuing legal resolutions.
Consumers are upset and inconvenienced by having to go to a pharmacy that is not within their community. They are also witnessing increased transportation costs by having to drive distances to the selected pharmacy. Customers of any pharmacy who are inconvenienced or have incurred additional costs or have witnessed adverse health conditions after being required to go to a selected pharmacy or mail order are encouraged to call the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney Generals Office 304-558-8986 and report their experiences.
To Selected WV Pharmacies:
WVPA has been informed by pharmacists of patients being instructed by Caremark to go to a selected pharmacy or purchase their prescriptions drugs from a selected mail order operation.
WVPA is undertaking efforts to resolve this issue, and assistance is needed from pharmacies to substantiate these potentially illegal activities.
WV Pharmacy Practice Law, which regulates pharmacists and pharmacies, prohibits a pharmacist or pharmacy from participating in a prescription drug program whereby they are promoted or offered as the exclusive provider of prescription drug products or whereby in any way the public is denied, limited or influenced in selecting pharmaceutical service or counseling. Violation of this law is grounds for suspension or revocation of a pharmacist’s license or pharmacy’s registration, and imposition of a fine up to $1,000 for each offense, according to the Law.
It appears the selected pharmacy to which consumers are being “steered to” has agreed to be the exclusive provider of prescription drugs and it is certainly evident the public is being denied access to pharmacies of their choice and limited where they can obtain pharmaceutical services or counseling.
WVPA and several pharmacists met with leaders of the Senate, House of Delegates and attorneys for the Legislature at the Capitol last Friday to report and discuss this issue. Contact was also made with the consumer protection attorney in the Attorney General’s office. The government officials and attorneys requested evidence of incidents whereby consumers were instructed to go to selected pharmacies or mail order.
Therefore, pharmacists are requested to send to WVPA copies of communications they have available to them wherein a person is directed to go to another pharmacy or to mail order for their prescription drugs. Pharmacists are requested to send this information to WVPA after blocking out any HIPAA information. This information will be given appropriate
government officials for their use in pursuing legal resolutions.
Consumers are upset and inconvenienced by having to go to a pharmacy that is not within their community. They are also witnessing increased transportation costs by having to drive distances to the selected pharmacy. Customers of any pharmacy who are inconvenienced or have incurred additional costs or have witnessed adverse health conditions after being required to go to a selected pharmacy or mail order are encouraged to call the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney Generals Office 304-558-8986 and report their experiences.
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