By Liz Thomas
2/9/2010
Indiana is getting nearly $2 million from CVS to settle a complaint brought against the pharmacy chain.
The state has reached a $1.95 million agreement with CVS Pharmacy Stores in connection with two of the company's pharmacists dispensing prescription drugs for several years with expired licenses. .
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller says between 1997 and 2007, employees Morris “Mo” Skirvin and Edward Certain filled more than 60,000 prescriptions at their respective stores in Nashville and Marion, Indiana, without licenses.
As a result, the Indiana Medicaid program was overbilled for fees to which the unlicensed pharmacists were not entitled.
“When consumers get prescriptions filled, they do so trusting that the person behind the pharmacy counter dispensing medication is up to date on their licensing. That trust was violated by these two individuals,” Zoeller said.
As part of the settlement, CVS has agreed to set into motion several consumer protections: It must verify that pharmacist employees and contractors have valid Indiana pharmacist’s licenses
The company must also require applicants for pharmacist positions to disclose any aliases they have used and whether they are ineligible to hold a license.
Zoeller says the settlement with the state will be used to reimburse the Indiana Medicaid program.
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