Worcester Pharmacy To Pay $1.6M Over Violations

Prosecutors say a Worcester pharmacy will pay $1.6 million to settle allegations that it broke state laws by automatically refilling prescription medications that were not requested by MassHealth patients.

Attorney General Martha Coakley says AllCare Pharmacy has agreed to return $1.6 million to Massachusetts state coffers and be subject to additional reporting requirements to ensure that it complies with state laws in the future.

The attorney general's office said Friday that the settlement is the first case in the state to crackdown on a pharmacy that automatically refills prescriptions for MassHealth members.

Authorities alleges automatic refill programs cause MassHealth patients to obtain medications far in excess of what was used or needed, leading to wasted government resources.