Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Economy
Related: About this forumCostco Wholesale to Pay $11.75 Million to Settle Allegations of Lax Pharmacy Controls
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/costco-wholesale-pay-1175-million-settle-allegations-lax-pharmacy-controlsDepartment of Justice
U.S. Attorneys Office
Eastern District of California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Costco Wholesale to Pay $11.75 Million to Settle Allegations of Lax Pharmacy Controls
Costco Failed to Maintain Records at West Sacramento Central Fill Pharmacy
SACRAMENTO, Calif. Costco Wholesale will pay $11.75 million to settle allegations that its pharmacies violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) when they improperly filled prescriptions for controlled substances. The settlement resolves allegations that Costco pharmacies filled prescriptions that were incomplete, lacked valid DEA registration numbers or were for substances beyond various doctors scope of practice. Additionally, the settlement resolves allegations that Costco failed to keep and maintain accurate records for controlled substances at its pharmacies and centralized fill locations, which resulted in a significant shortage at the West Sacramento central fill pharmacy.
(snip)
Under the settlement reached January 18, 2017, Costco acknowledges that between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2015, certain Costco pharmacies dispensed controlled substances inconsistent with their compliance obligations under the CSA and its implementing regulations. The violations include: filling prescriptions from practitioners who did not have a valid DEA number; incorrectly recording the practitioners DEA number; filling prescriptions outside the scope of a practitioners DEA registration; filling prescriptions that did not contain all the required information; failing to maintain accurate dispensing records; and failing to maintain records for their central fill locations in Sacramento, California and Everett, Washington.
(snip)
To address the numerous issues uncovered in this investigation, Costco surrendered its DEA Registration at its central fill location in West Sacramento and accordingly, lost the ability to handle controlled substances. Costco also made improvements in its pharmacies by purchasing a new pharmacy management system at a total budgeted five-year cost of approximately $127 million. Additionally, Costco implemented a three-tier audit program of its pharmacy locations: Tier 1, done by pharmacy managers and regional pharmacy supervisors; Tier 2, completed by an Internal Audit group consisting of three auditors and an audit supervisor; and Tier 3, an External Audit of 40 annual audits.
Under the terms of the settlement, over the next three years, DEA is allowed to conduct unannounced and unrestricted inspections of all DEA registered Costco pharmacy locations without Administrative Inspection Warrants. The Drug Enforcement Administration monitors pharmacy prescribing practices to ensure compliance with federal law. Pharmacies found in violation face escalating penalties up to the revocation of their DEA Registration number the authorization that allows them to write prescriptions for controlled substances.
(snip)
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
0 replies, 1092 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (0)
ReplyReply to this post