JULY 28, 2022
Illustration shows CVS Health logo. – Reuters/DADO RUVIC
NEW YORK – New York on Thursday sued CVS Health Corp for allegedly forcing hospitals that serve low-income patients to pay millions of dollars to access discounted prescription drugs.
In a lawsuit filed in state court in Manhattan, New York Attorney General Letitia James said the pharmacy group abused its market power by requiring hospitals and clinics to use a CVS subsidiary, Wellpartner, to process their drug claims.
CVS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The lawsuit centers on so-called safety net hospitals, which are eligible for discounted drugs because they serve predominantly lower income patients.
“While safety net health care providers are tackling public health crises and helping underserved communities, CVS is robbing them out of millions of desperately needed funds that could improve patient care,” James said in a statement.
