Results tagged “actions”

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Amidst budget crisis, CVS refused to deliver medicine to AIDS non-profit without immediate payment

At a press conference today outside a CVS Pharmacy in Philadelphia, leaders of the non-profit Calcutta House announced that the organization is severing long-standing ties with CVS Pharmacy. The announcement comes after CVS suspended prescription service to some of Philadelphia's most vulnerable patients last week, amidst a state budget crisis in Pennsylvania.

When Calcutta House, which serves AIDS patients who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, asked its vendors for compassion during a difficult financial time, all of them were happy to help--except for CVS. When the small organization ordered its regular supply of prescription drugs from CVS, the pharmacy chain showed no sympathy and refused to fill the order without immediate payment.

"Calcutta House has worked with CVS/Pharmacare for years, and our residents depend on these prescriptions," said Calcutta House Executive Director Matthew Teter. "The company's recent actions reveal that it cares more about its bottom line than the health of the patients it claims to serve. That's not the kind of company we want to give our business to."

Calcutta House normally orders between 15,000 and 18,000 dosages of medicine each month. The outstanding balance on its account when CVS refused to fill the prescription order was less than $300.

Continue reading Amidst budget crisis, CVS refused to deliver medicine to AIDS non-profit without immediate payment.

Posted by Alex G. on September 24, 2009 1:55 PM

In Photos: Rally in Providence Against Expired Goods

Providence-area consumer advocates rallied in Providence on Thursday outside the CVS at 70 Kennedy Plaza, calling on CVS to adopt new corporate policies to protect consumers. Citing concerns for public health over CVS's sale of expired products and practice of locking condom cases in some stores, advocates shed light on new findings from surveys of the company's stores.

After revealing last month that CVS pharmacies in Greater Providence were selling expired milk, infant formula and over-the-counter medications, consumer advocates called on the company to clean up its stores - and its act. But spot checks done earlier this month revealed CVS stores in the area are still selling expired goods. Of the 20 CVS stores visited in early June, 60% were caught selling expired products, including expired milk, infant formula and over-the-counter medications. Health experts have warned against using products past their expiration date.

"It's unethical to cut corners with our healthcare," said Brother Jakob Lazarus Thibault, of the North American Old Catholic Church. "With CVS earning billions of dollars in annual revenue, we have paid for the right to be treated like human beings!"

Posted by Alex G. on June 23, 2009 2:52 PM

KHOU On Expired Goods at CVS Stores

Consumer advocates rallied outside the CVS store at 806 S. 75th Street in Houston yesterday, calling on the pharmacy chain to stop selling expired products in its stores. Findings released yesterday found that Greater Houston CVS stores have failed to adequately address these issues since a February survey of 34 local CVS stores found expired dairy products, medication or infant formula for sale at 90% of the stores visited.
Houston-based groups are calling for CVS to adopt new corporate policies after the California Attorney General announced last week that CVS will pay almost $1 million to settle allegations of misleading customers and unfair business practices stemming from the sale of expired products and of failing to adequately protect and dispose of customers' confidential personal and medical information.
Houston community leaders were quoted by KHOU on the issue:
"There are serious disparities in terms of those products," said DeLoyd Parker with the Shape Center. "I mean that's serious. Look at our children. Look at the families these businesses serve."

"We care about what the consumer is getting. We found that by shopping at CVS we're not getting first rate products or products that have a usable shelf life and we're concerned about the effects of some of these products," said Francisco Rodriguez with LULAC.

Study: CVS is selling expired products [KHOU, Houston; 6/18/09]

Posted by Alex G. on June 19, 2009 9:06 AM

Join us on Thursday in a city near you

Despite lawsuits and reprimands over the last year, CVS stores have been caught selling expired products as recently as last week. Now, people across the country are taking action.

On Tuesday of last week, the Philadelphia City Council heard testimony about expired products at CVS stores in Philadelphia. The Council will soon vote on legislation inspired by CVS's repeated sale of expired goods that would ban the sale of such products in the city.

Then, on Wednesday, California Attorney General Jerry Brown made CVS pay nearly $1 million for selling expired products and improperly disposing of patient information in the state, settling charges against the company for its repeated sales of expired goods. The company faces additional penalties in California for repeat violations of this practice.

This coming Thursday, actvists will rally in cities across the country to shed light on CVS's national pattern of selling expired products, and to call on the company to change its practices. If you live in or near one of the cities hosting an event, please join us on Thursday:

Houston
Where: CVS Pharmacy at 806 S. 75th St., Houston, TX
When: Thursday, June 18 - 5:00 PM

Indianapolis
Where: CVS Pharmacy at 5110 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN.
When: Thursday, June 18 - 12:00 NOON

Los Angeles
Where: 1485 S. Garey Ave., Pomona, CA.
When: Thursday, June 18 - 12:00 NOON

Newark Area
Where: CVS Pharmacy at 317 Central Avenue, East Orange, NJ
When: Thursday, June 18 - 12:00 NOON

Pittsburgh
Where: CVS Pharmacy at 6100 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh PA
When: Thursday, June 18 - 12:00 NOON

Providence
Where: CVS Pharmacy at 70 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI.
When: Thursday, June 18 - 5:00 PM

San Diego
Where: CVS Pharmacy at 1380 S. 43rd St., San Diego, CA
When: Thursday, June 18 - 5:00 PM

Standing together, we can bring change to the country's largest retail pharmacy chain. We hope to see you out there.

Posted by Alex G. on June 16, 2009 1:01 PM

Video: Activists Call on CVS to Unlock Condom Cases in its Stores

Representatives from nine different communities groups, surrounded by dozens of supporters, spoke out against CVS's practice of locking condom cases in its stores on Thursday. Washingtonian bloggers captured some of the speakers discussing the issue. [Via]

Posted by Alex G. on June 12, 2009 2:36 PM

In Photos: Press Conference Held Near CVS in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

Protesters gathered in Dupont Circle this afternoon, near the CVS pharmacy there, for a press conference and to protest CVS's practice of locking condom cases disproportionately in communities of color. To read more about CVS's condom lockup practices, click here.

Posted by Alex G. on June 11, 2009 5:52 PM

Video: On CVS's Corporate Responsibilities

Unitarian minister Judy Tomlinson speaking in Newark, NJ on May 21, 2009, on CVS's responsibilities to the communities it serves.

Posted by Alex G. on May 29, 2009 10:43 AM

Bridgeport News 8 on Expired Products at CVS

Bridgeport, CT's WTNH's story on expired products at CVS stores in Fairfield County.

Posted by Alex G. on May 22, 2009 10:28 AM

In photos: Rallies Against Expired Products in Cities Across the Country

Above, photos from Cure CVS rallies in Indianapolis and Chicago today. Protesters spoke out against CVS's continuning sale of expired products at its stores.

Posted by Alex G. on May 21, 2009 5:11 PM

CVS Stores in Massachusetts Caught with Most Illegal Overcharges of any Retailer in the State

CVS Caremark Corp., the nation's largest pharmacy chain, is by far the most penalized food retailer for overcharging in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations' 2008 inspection reports. Analysis of the reports was released today as consumer advocates held a press conference at the Massachusetts state house - download a copy of that report here.

The Boston Globe's Jenn Abelson explains CVS's overcharging violations have shot up dramatically since last year:

"CVS Caremark Corp. last year had a 67 percent increase in the number of state violations for allegedly overcharging customers...according to a report to be released today...[T]he number of overcharging violations - defined as charging more at the register than the price in an advertisement, on a shelf sign, or on the item itself - soared to 711, from 425.

By comparison, rival Walgreens had 71 violations for overcharging.

'The amount of overcharges inspectors found at CVS has increased at a startling rate,' said Deanne Dworski-Riggs, an organizer on the Cure CVS campaign, initiated by Change to Win and other partner organizations. 'Even after the Globe reported on this issue last year, overcharging continues to be a serious problem. I was shocked at the number of overcharges we found at CVS stores.'"
Consumer advocates held a press conference at the Massachusetts state house. Advocates warned shoppers to check their CVS drugstore receipts and called on lawmakers to do more to strengthen pricing protections. This is the second year in a row that CVS Caremark Corp. has led state food retailers in overcharging fines.

This fact is not a coincidence, according to a CVS former manager who spoke to the Globe:

"Aaron Weintrob, who worked at CVS for 14 years until leaving last year, said it is costlier for CVS to follow the pricing laws than to pay the fines.

'It's deliberate,' said Weintrob, who now works as a retail salesman in Massachusetts. 'If price accuracy was important, CVS would have the measures in place - signs, item pricing, employing people to maintain accuracy - to follow the law. Fines are simply looked at as the cost of doing business.'"
Consumer advocates at today's press conference called on legislators to strengthen consumer protection laws like item pricing, and increase penalties and enforcement to deter further violations from retailers like CVS.

CVS called a leader in pricing violations [Boston Globe, 5/7/09]

Posted by Alex G. on May 7, 2009 11:23 AM

Los Angeles activists call on CVS to unlock condom cases

Activists in Los Angeles rallied outside a downtown CVS yesterday, as reported by CBS2 (Los Angeles), calling on the retail pharmacy chain to unlock condom cases in all its stores, and to adopt a corporate policy prohibiting condom lockup. A recent survey of 45 CVS stores in Los Angeles County found locked condom cases at 11 of the stores - nearly one quarter. The survey also found CVS stores with locked condom cases are more often located in areas with higher concentrations of Latinos and people of color - populations disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS. All of the CVS stores found with locked condoms were on the Eastside of Los Angeles. By contrast, of the 23 stores surveyed in the West side of Los Angeles - the part of the County with proportionately fewer residents of color and of Latino background - not a single CVS store locked up condoms.

Locking condom cases creates a barrier to condom access by "forcing would-be purchasers to ask store personnel for access [and] stigmatizes condom use." In a city where half of all newly diagnosed people with AIDS are Latino, and Latinas are four times more likely than white women to be diagnosed with AIDS, locking condom cases in Latino communities is simply unacceptable.

Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a representative from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) and an ally at yesterday's rally was quoted in the LA Weekly saying, "No matter where you live, buying condoms can literally mean the difference between life and death, and people on the Eastside should have equal access to condoms. In HIV prevention, communities of color, women and young people, need a partner in prevention, not another insensitive corporate giant. CVS should be called to answer for its practices."

Yesterday's rally was only the latest in a series of demonstrations taking place across the country against CVS's practice of locking condom cases. Activists are calling on CVS to adopt a company-wide policy prohibiting locked condom cases in its stores. Join the call by signing our petition here.

Rubber Soul: CVS Accused of Locking Up Condoms in Its Eastside Stores [LA Weekly, 4/7/09]

Protesters Accuse CVS Of Locking Up Condoms [CBS2 (Los Angeles), 4/7/09]

Posted by Alex G. on April 8, 2009 4:35 PM

Are expired goods for sale at a CVS near you?

Expired goods have been found on CVS store shelves across the country: out-of-date infant formula, expired medications, spoiled milk and eggs past their expiration date have all been found for sale at CVS stores. In a national survey, Cure CVS researchers found expired products for sale at 42% of stores surveyed - and one of those stores could be near you.

Tell CVS to clean up its act!

Our team surveyed over 1,500 CVS stores, but we didn't visit every store in the country and we're sure there are still more expired products to be found.

So we need your help: go to your local CVS pharmacy and search the shelves for expired products. Find expired milk in the dairy case? Out-of-date infant formula or children's medicine? Take a picture of the expired products you find and upload them to our site:

Tell CVS to clean up its act!

Community leaders and activists are taking action in eight cities across the country today to tell CVS to clean up its act. Visit our blog to see photos, read about the actions and find out what other people are saying about CVS?s expired products.

You can join the effort by going to your local CVS and searching for expired products on the shelves. Upload your photos and together we'll send a message to CVS that consumers won't tolerate this behavior from the country's largest retail pharmacy chain.

Posted by Alex G. on April 7, 2009 5:12 PM

Spreading the word in Philadelphia

Advocates in Philadelphia inform consumers about the problems at CVS pharmacies. Similar events were held in Washington, DC., Houston and Orlando today.

Posted by Alex G. on April 7, 2009 5:07 PM

Cure CVS rallies in Harlem

Cure CVS activists and allies gathered outside the CVS pharmacy at 115 W. 125th St. in Harlem today to protest the company's repeated health code violations.

During an inspection on February 12, 2009, state health inspectors found (emphasis added):
"Bag (4oz) of pop corn in storage room found to be rodent defiled with mouse droppings and gnaw marks. Product destroyed under signed waiver during inspection."
"One mouse carcass is present on retail area floor under candy display."
"20-30 fresh appearing mouse droppings are present under retail candy display. Spilled food and packaging material with gnaw marks noted in same area."
"200-250 fresh appearing mouse droppings are present in storage area on floor and shelves."
Click here to download a fact sheet (PDF) with more information about CVS's health code violations in New York City.

Posted by Alex G. on April 7, 2009 2:36 PM

Rally in Boston - April 2, 2009

Posted by Alex G. on April 3, 2009 10:07 AM

We're asking CVS to clean up its act

Activists gathered in Boston, Miami and Washington, DC, today to spread the word about CVS's recurring problems with expired products and locked condom cases.

As community groups gathered in Boston, leafletters handed out fliers in Washington and protestors spoke out in Miami. Throughout the day's events, a recurring theme emerged: consumers are tired of CVS's behavior.

In Miami, surveyors found that 58% of area CVS stores had expired products on their shelves, while over a third of stores kept condoms under lock and key. South Florida Jobs With Justice (SFJWJ), South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice (SFIWJ), National Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ), Healthcare For All Florida, South Florida AFL-CIO, Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), Students Working for Equal Rights (SWER), A. Philip Randolph Institute, Miami Dade Chapter (APRI), and SEIU 32BJ Florida, Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC)-Miami all joined Cure CVS in speaking out against the practice.

The Miami Herald quoted Change to Win Executive Director Chris Chafe saying, "This is offensive to our members who go to work and work hard everyday, including those who work in the stores...We're quite sure as an industry leader they can, should and must do better."

Continue reading We're asking CVS to clean up its act.

Posted by Alex G. on April 2, 2009 5:47 PM

Cure CVS stands up in Orange County

Activists stand up for consumer and community rights in Orange County, Calif. on Thursday, March 19, 2009.

Posted by Alex G. on March 23, 2009 5:42 PM

Standing up for consumers in Orange County

Nearly 100 protestors took to the streets of Santa Ana, California yesterday to speak out against CVS's continuing sales of expired food and medicine. Standing beside a table full of expired goods recently purchased in California, community leaders called on CVS to "stop disregarding the health of our children and families" by selling out-of-date products.

This isn't the first time CVS has been criticized for selling expired goods. In June 2008, California Attorney General Jerry Brown investigated CVS stores in Southern California in response to consumer complaints. His staff found expired products on the shelves at 26 CVS stores in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Brown was quoted at the time saying "CVS Pharmacy should immediately pull these expired products from its shelves and ensure that these consumer safety violations do not occur again."

Despite Brown's appeal to the company, CVS's expired goods problem is still unresolved. Even within the last few weeks, activists were able to buy out-of-date products at CVS stores - months after Attorney General Brown called on the company to resolve the problem. Will public outcry persuade the company to commit to not selling expired goods?

Read more about yesterday's protest in the Orange County Register.

Posted by Alex G. on March 20, 2009 1:28 PM

What do we want? Condom access!

From the Philadelphia City Paper, a short, pithy video describing Cure CVS's protest in front of a CVS store in North Philadelphia on Thursday, Feb. 12. Full video transcript after the jump.

Continue reading What do we want? Condom access!.

Posted by Alex G. on February 17, 2009 10:04 AM

In Photos: Unlock the Condoms!

Photos from events in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Los Angeles where public health advocates, civil rights groups and community leaders spoke out against CVS's practice of locking condom cases in communities of color.

Posted by Alex G. on February 12, 2009 4:47 PM