Walgreens Agrees To Stop Altering Prescriptions In $35M Settlement

NASHVILLE -- Walgreens has agreed to stop altering prescriptions without physician approval as part of a multi-state agreement to settle allegations of improper billing, Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper has announced.

The agreement resolves claims that Walgreens violated various state and federal statutes and regulations to maximize profits by switching dosage forms of three medications without physician approval.

By switching the drugs commonly prescribed for Medicaid patients, Medicaid programs nationwide ultimately had to pay substantially more for these drugs than they would have.

Walgreens agreed to comply with state and federal laws in addition to paying $35 million to the federal government, 42 states and Puerto Rico.

"'We are pleased with this agreement" Attorney General Bob Cooper said. "We hope this case will help improve market standards and keep anyone from altering medical prescriptions without consulting with the physicians who prescribe medications to their patients."