CVS subpoenaed for ‘possible false’ claims

WOONSOCKET – CVS Caremark Corp., the largest U.S. provider of prescription drugs, received a subpoena from a federal agency concerning “possible false or otherwise improper” claims for Medicare and Medicaid payments, Bloomberg News reported last week.
The subpoena from the Office of Inspector General within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requested claims data from CVS retail pharmacies for customers eligible for both private and federal insurance coverage, CVS said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CVS said it is cooperating with the investigation.
Texas filed a similar suit against CVS in April 2009 concerning patients eligible for Medicaid and private insurance. CVS also is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, which is probing some business practices.
The Health and Human Services subpoena requested data on CVS’ retail claims-processing systems and copies of contracts, among other documents, according to the filing. •