Target pharmacies in Arkansas have stopped a prescription coupon program that the Arkansas Board of Pharmacy considered in conflict with its rules.
The program required the filling of at least five prescriptions to qualify for a 5 percent discount and did not allow prescriptions that were paid for by Medicare or Medicaid, fully or in part, according to the board.
The board sent a letter dated Aug. 19 to Target, requesting that it cease its program, which is in violation of its regulation on “unprofessional or dishonorable conduct,” which includes “the distribution, or advertising of premiums, rebates, coupons, amounts off, etc. on prescription drugs unless the offer is given to all patients purchasing prescriptions in the same time period. Senior citizen discounts shall not be considered a violation of this section.”
The letter also mentioned that the board was imposing a penalty. John Kirtley, executive director of the board, said that the penalty is $2,500.
There are nine Target stores in Arkansas. All have pharmacies except for the one in North Little Rock. There are two in Little Rock, and the others are in Conway, Bryant, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro and Rogers.
Target Corp., which is based in Minneapolis, said in an email: “Due to a conflict between state and federal law, we will no longer offer our Pharmacy Rewards program at our Arkansas stores.We will continue to work with the Board of Pharmacy and intend to fully comply with their requested terms,” including the fine.
The company said in response to a question about which federal law was in conflict with the Arkansas board’s regulations that it had “no specific details.”
“We’re committed to abiding by all applicable laws and regulations, and we apologize to our guests for any disappointment this may cause,” the company continued. “We hope that at some point in the future, the Arkansas’ Board of Pharmacy will reconsider its position on this issue.”
The Target website says the program is not valid in New York, New Jersey “or where prohibited by law.”
Business, Pages 27 on 08/30/2013