CVS Corporation has entered into a settlement agreement with the Attorneys General of a number of states with respect to allegations related to billing practices concerning "partial-fill" prescriptions - Legal News in Brief - Brief Article

Drug Cost Management Report, Feb, 2003

* CVS Corporation has entered into a settlement agreement with the Attorneys General of a number of states with respect to allegations related to billing practices concerning "partial-fill" prescriptions. The alleged practices took place before 1998, at which time CVS instituted revised procedures to address this industry-wide problem.

A partial-fill prescription refers to the partial dispensation of a prescription when the pharmacy does not have the full amount of the medication in inventory. Such a situation may have led to possible billing errors when a customer did not return for the remainder of the prescription. As a result of the settlement, CVS agreed to pay $1.1 million to be divided among 18 states and the District of Columbia. The company believes that its current practices fully comply with all state and federal regulations, and do not lead to billing errors. Information: Michael DeAngelis, CVS, (401) 770-2645.