Complain about a product or service

CVS - Minimum Rx Prices

CVS • Rx Errors   › Wrong Count   › Wrong Dosage   › Wrong Drug   › Wrong Count   › Wrong Identity • Rx Service • Minimum Rx Charge • Prices • An Insider's View --- News • California Prods CVS to Stop Selling Expired Products • CVS, Caremark Rx Agree to Merge • CVS In Merger Talks With Caremark • New York Fines CVS for Sweepstakes Violations • Extra Care Records Subject to Snooping • CVS Takes Measures to Block Counterfeit Drugs • CVS Settles Pennsylvania Suit

Tom of Lynn MA (1/12/04):
Recently I had an RX for 45 pills Hydochlorothizide filled. When I picked it up I noticed they had charged me my co-pay of $9.90 and only gave me one-month supply of 15 pills. When I inquired I was told my insurance only covered a one-month supply. I asked how much the full RX cost and was told that 45 pills would cost $10.00. At my insistance I gave back the 1-month supply and told the Pharmacist to give me the full prescription -- a 3 month supply of 45 and that I would pay the additional penny.

Reluctantly the pharmacy did this. WHen I inqured further why at the very least my co-pay was not lowered to $3.33 -- the actual cost of 15 pills -- I was told by the pharmacist that "the computer" does not allow this. The pill I am talking about is a widely used pill for the treatment of blood pressure problems. I work in the health care field and was quick to recognize the problem and the unfairness of the transaction, but I have serious concerns how many thousands of prescriptions CVS fills for this and other low-cost drugs and the consumer does not know they are being cheated.

Terry of Easton PA writes (7/28/03):
I had a prescription for Inderol which is about $13.99 for 300 pills for the generic prophanol. CVS charges a "Minimum Dispensing Fee" of $9.99 for ALL presciptions. I was not told this until AFTER the rx was filled and I questioned why I was charged $9.99 for only 60 tablets. I was told that since my doctor wrote the prescription as a quantity of 60 with 6 refills they can only fill it that way which I am aware of.

My complaint is that customers need to be told about this $9.99 minimum so they could have the opportunity to have the rx rewritten by the physicians. Doctors try to save their patients money by writing small quantities and pharmacies are now charging a minimum. I am paying almost ten fold of what the drug should really cost. Consumers who do not question what they are charged have no idea this practice is even taking place.

Diana of Williamsburg OH (7/1/03):
I do not understand how this pharmacy can charge $9.99 as a minimum charge for a prescription even if the cost of the drug is less than that amount and get away with it. This cannot be legal, can it?