Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has opened an investigation into CVS over allegations the company improperly used customers’ personal information to send text messages lobbying against a state bill that would have affected its operations.
Murrill also plans to issue a cease-and-desist letter to the pharmacy chain, according to ABC News.
The controversy centres on a now-failed piece of legislation that would have banned companies from owning both retail pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), a move that would directly impact CVS, which operates CVS Caremark, one of the country’s largest PBMs.
During a legislative hearing, state lawmakers shared examples of the text messages, including one that warned: “Last minute legislation in Louisiana threatens to close your CVS Pharmacy, your medication cost may go up and your pharmacist may lose their job,” according to the Associated Press.
CVS’s messages linked to a pre-written letter encouraging recipients to contact their legislators in opposition to the bill.
The draft claimed the legislation would end home delivery for medications and threaten access to pharmacies serving patients with complex conditions like cancer or organ transplants.
State Representative Dixon McMakin criticised the texts, accusing CVS of “lying” and employing “scare tactics” to influence the debate.
The scale of the messaging effort also raised eyebrows. Murrill said CVS sent large numbers of texts to state employees and their families in the run-up to the vote.
Amy Thibault, a spokesperson for CVS, defended the company’s actions. In a statement shared with The Independent, she said: “We believe we had a responsibility to inform our customers of misguided legislation that sought to shutter their trusted pharmacy, and we acted accordingly. Our communication… was consistent with law.”
She added that CVS remains committed to making medications more affordable and accessible in Louisiana.
CVS Caremark and other PBMs have faced growing scrutiny over their role in inflating drug costs and limiting pharmacy access.
A 2024 report by the Federal Trade Commission criticised PBMs for potentially squeezing independent pharmacies while profiting from high drug prices.
The bill ultimately failed to progress, with the Louisiana Senate declining to take it up for the 2025 session.
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