NY Attorney General James is asking the court to block CVS from requiring its hospital partners to use Wellpartner, as well as damages in an unspecified amount. This lawsuit comes after CVS bought Wellpartner, a 340B administrator, and then refused to contract with providers that chose not to use Wellpartner. 340B providers serve mostly low-income patients and offer drugs at a discounted price for those individuals. Refusing to contract with providers that did not use Wellpartner forced those providers to either decide to use Wellpartner, or their patients would not be able to get their 340B discount at CVS pharmacies – something that is non-negotiable for many low-income individuals requiring medication. CVS’s actions are to the detriment of both hospitals and the low-income patients they care for.
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.
Source: CVS siphoned millions from ‘safety net’ hospitals – New York lawsuit | Reuters