Lawsuit Accuses CVS Of Overcharging For Generic Drugs
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pharmacy giant CVS is allegedly bilking customers with a deceptive pricing scheme affecting more than 400 generic drugs, claims a Washington, DC-based law firm seeking class action status to recover the cash.
In a 118-page complaint filed in California by the Hausfeld law firm, plaintiff customers outline a complicated scheme that resulted in them paying higher prices for pharmaceuticals than others.
The lawsuit alleges that CVS used inflated prices for certain generic drugs which would lead to a higher co-pay for customers, a price that was higher than if you had paid cash or were uninsured or were part of the CVS discount program.
For example, the lawsuit says one customer was charged a $20 co-pay for 30 pills when another got 90 pills for an $11.99 copay in the discount program.
When it comes to buying prescription drugs in the United States, Point Park University business professor Elaine Luther says it's tough on consumers to figure out where to get a good deal.
"If I could sum up the system as it is now, it's not fair. And it makes me crazy, and I'm really good at math," Luther told KDKA money editor Jon Delano.
Luther says it's like buying airline tickets where every seat on the same aircraft has a different price.
"CVS has different prices for different ways of paying in essence," added Luther.
While that can be very confusing, it may not be illegal. CVS says a similar lawsuit was dismissed in Massachusetts.
So what should a customer do?
"I think what you should do is ask what their lowest price if you pay cash is," advised Luther.
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