Walgreens has agreed to pay $106 million to settle lawsuits that alleged the pharmacy chain submitted false payment claims with government health care programs for prescriptions that were never dispensed.

The settlement announced on Friday resolves lawsuits filed in New Mexico, Texas and Florida on behalf of three people who had worked in Walgreens’ pharmacy operation. The lawsuits were filed under a whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act that lets private parties file case on behalf of the United States government and share in the recovery of money, the U.S. Justice Department said. The pharmacy chain was accused of submitting false payment claims to Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs between 2009 and 2020 for prescriptions that were processed but never picked up.

In a statement, Walgreens said that because of a software error, the chain inadvertently billed some government programs for a relatively small number of prescriptions that patients submitted but never picked up.

  • Maeve@kbin.earth
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    2 months ago

    I’m of two minds here. Part says they could and should lose their license to dispense and government contracts; the other part knows this is often the only pharmacy people can access.

    • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      2 months ago

      Sounds like the company needs to be forced to pay for full time government employees who supervise the company to insure compliance.

      • Maeve@kbin.earth
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        2 months ago

        I’d prefer rich corporations and individuals be heavily taxed to pay for universal comprehensive care. No means testing, deductibles, or copay.

        • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          2 months ago

          Absolutely agree, but at some point there will still be someone reporting expenses to the government and that needs to be trustworthy info.

      • Maeve@kbin.earth
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        2 months ago

        And laughing all the way to their offshore banks, should that happen.