Jan 23, 2019

Written by Alia Paavola | January 23, 2019 | Print  | Email CaptureRx, a San Antonio-based 340B program administrator, is suing CVS Health for allegedly violating antitrust laws by engaging in anticompetitive behavior, according to Express News. In the lawsuit filed Jan.18 in federal court, CaptureRx claims CVS required hospitals and health centers working with CVS pharmacies to switch to Wellpartner, a CVS subsidiary providing services for the 340B program. According to the lawsuit, at least 40 hospitals and clinics have terminated their agreements with CaptureRx, and others indicated they will not renew once their contract expires. Wellpartner and CaptureRx are competitors. "As CVS continues to pressure customers with its mandates, CaptureRx suspects that most of its [healthcare provider] customers will cease doing business with CaptureRx,” the suit alleges. "But for CVS’ unlawful ties, these customers would have remained with CaptureRx." CaptureRx is a 340B administrator for more than 500 hospitals and health centers. In addition, more than 3,500 specialty, independent and regional national pharmacies are in the network. CVS spokesperson Mike DeAngelis said the lawsuit has no merit, adding that "it appears that CaptureRx is threatened by new competition and is trying to use unfounded antitrust allegations to stall the growth of an emerging competitor, Wellpartner."