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Walgreens To Pay $2.8 Million For Allegedly Overcharging Mass. Communities

BOSTON – Walgreens has agreed to pay a total of $2.8 million to some 75 Massachusetts communities over accusations that the pharmacy chain was overcharging for prescriptions.

The Attorney General says starting in 2002, the company overcharged communities by a total of $1.4 million for prescription drugs under the workers compensation insurance system.

The Attorney General had already reached similar settlements with CVS Supermarkets, and Stop & Shop.

"Cities and towns are under a great deal of economic stress, and every dollar counts," said Attorney General Martha Coakley. "Here, the cities and towns were overcharged for prescription drug purchases. Today's action recovers nearly three million back for local communities, and works to prevent these kinds of overcharges from happening in the future."

The city of Boston will receive the largest portion of the settlement, approximately $200,000.

Springfield, Holyoke, Fairhaven, Needham, Lowell, Auburn, New Bedford, Norwood, Revere, South Hadley, and Winchester will all receive refunds of more than $10,000 each.

On average, municipalities will receive $8,900 each.

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