News
from the fight to #SaveIndiePharmacy
New York Times’ The Middlemen series
Cub pharmacies, Twin Cities grocers facing disruptions in cyberattack on major distributor
UNFI, Cub’s parent company, also distributes food for other area grocery stores like Whole Foods, Kowalski’s and Lunds & Byerlys. It is still working to restore its systems after last week’s breach while its grocers deal with unstocked shelves and immobilized pharmacies.
Ramstad: Soda fountain out, vaccine hub in as St. Paul Corner Drug fights to survive
The century-old fountain closed during the pandemic. Now, pharmacy owner John Hoeschen needs room to administer shots and other services that are the main source of profit for drugstores.
What we lose when chain drugstores replace family-owned independents
When West Seventh Pharmacy closes, St. Paul will lose a piece of history and personal care.
UnitedHealth’s Optum to address pricing, access challenges for prescription drugs
The changes come as pharmacy benefit managers face scrutiny for how they require doctors and patients to seek its approval for certain treatments and drugs.
UnitedHealthcare fined $3.4M by insurance regulators in North Carolina
Insurance regulators in North Carolina fined UnitedHealthcare $3.4 million after a multiyear investigation alleged dozens of instances when the insurer might have let patients wrongly face excessive bills for out-of-network health care.
Eagan’s Prime Therapeutics hit with $10.3M judgment in price-fixing case
Safety net provider alleged pharmacy benefit manager collaborated with a rival to set low payment rates to pharmacies.
1 in 2 Americans affected by UnitedHealth cyberattack, new disclosure shows
Updated tally at Change Healthcare, owned by the Eden Prairie-based health care giant, nearly doubles the number of people affected by the massive data breach.
UnitedHealth Group ordered to pay $165 million over deceptive sales practices
UnitedHealth Group will appeal an order to pay $165 million in penalties and restitution after a judge found a business acquired by the Eden Prairie-based insurer more than five years ago used deceptive practices to sell benefits that supplement traditional health insurance in Massachusetts.
Medicare patient wrongly sent to collections in dispute between two UnitedHealth Group entities
The Minnesota-based insurer said he owed $275. The surgery center in St. Cloud wanted another $3,300. UnitedHealth owns both and is now apologizing.
Drugmakers including Purdue Pharma paid pharmacy benefit managers not to restrict painkiller prescriptions, a New York Times investigation found.