Walgreens Must Pay $500,000 in Settlement

Lawsuit alleges the pharmacy failed to always provide pharmacist consultations for patients

Walgreens must pay a $502,200 settlement in a consumer protection lawsuit that alleges the pharmacy failed to always provide pharmacist consultations for patients prescribed a new drug or a new dosage, according to the San Diego County District Attorney's office.

The state Board of Pharmacy requires pharmacists to provide consultations when a new drug is prescribed, when the patient is given a new dosage or at the patient’s request.

“Pharmacist consultations prevent drug errors and ensure that patients have the right prescription for their condition,” District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said in a statement. “Without these checks and balances, dire consequences could result.”

Improper medication use harms approximately 150,000 Californians and costs the state $1.7 billion in economic losses each year, the DA says.

The California Board of Pharmacy provided the District Attorney’s office 23 citations issued to Walgreens between 2010 and 2014 that showed continued disregard for the consultation requirement.

San Diego, Riverside and Alameda County district attorneys, in conjunction with the State Board of Pharmacy, began an undercover investigation of major pharmacy chains across the state after the Board brought the problem to their attention.

The investigation found a consistent failure to provide consultations during 28 undercover purchases across San Diego, Alameda and Riverside.

In 2013 and 2014, CVS and Rite Aid had to pay $658,000 and $498,000 respectively for similar breaches.

In addition to the settlement, Walgreens must now fully comply with the regulations and put an internal compliance program in place.

“Our settlement agreement is consistent with our company’s long-standing commitment to make pharmacists available to patients for advice and consultation on their medications and any other health concerns they may have,” Phil Caruso with Walgreens media relations told NBC7.

Based in Illinois, Walgreens owns 620 pharmacies in California.

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