POSTED: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 - 12:20pm
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 - 1:46pm
BATON ROUGE, La — Attorney General Buddy Caldwell today announced the distribution of more than $620,000 in settlement funds to 12 registered charitable pharmacies across the state of Louisiana. These charitable pharmacies provide prescription services to individuals who otherwise do not have adequate access to necessary medications though an insurance plan or government assistance program.
The funds are part of multi-state settlements reached with two of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefits management companies, Express Scripts, Inc., and Caremark Rx, L.L.C. for alleged violations of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. Thanks to the efforts of the AG’s Consumer Protection Division, in coordination with other state attorneys general, Louisiana pursued this matter and joined in the multi-state litigation and received a portion of the settlement proceeds.
“These types of consumer related enforcement actions send a loud and clear message that no one can come to the state of Louisiana and take advantage of or scam our citizens. We simply will not tolerate it,” stated Caldwell.
Under the terms of the court ordered settlement, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office is distributing these proceeds to non-profit charitable organizations with the condition that the funds be used to benefit low income, disabled, or elderly consumers of prescription medications. The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office will distribute the funds to the group of twelve charitable pharmacies as certified by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy according to the provisions of Title 46, Chapter 21 of the Louisiana Administrative Code.
“These funds will directly benefit the working poor, underinsured and uninsured in communities around the state. We are pleased that we are able to aid those organizations that provide our citizens with medications that they could not otherwise afford,” stated Attorney General Caldwell
The following is a list of non-profit charitable pharmacy organizations that were presented with portions of the settlement funds:
M.L King Health Center Pharmacy- Shreveport
St. Vincent DePaul Community Pharmacy-Baton Rouge
St. Vincent DePaul Community Pharmacy- New Orleans
CMAP Express- Alexandria
Community Heathworx- Alexandria
St. Vincent DePaul Community Pharmacy-Monroe
Lafayette Community Healthcare Clinic- Lafayette
St. Vincent DePaul Tri-Parish Community Pharmacy- Houma
Eunice Community Health Center- Eunice
Beauregard Agape Community Clinic- DeRidder
Calcasieu Community Pharmacy-Lake Charles
NW Louisiana Interfaith Pharmacy- Shreveport