NY AG Enforces Pharmacy Drug Price Disclosure Law

New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced on June 13 that her office had sent cease-and-desist letters to 44 pharmacies that violated the law requiring them to maintain drug retail price lists. State law requires each pharmacy to maintain a list of prices for the 150 most commonly prescribed drugs, update the list at least weekly, and post a sign notifying consumers that the list is available upon request.

Attorney General James said, “Posting prices of drugs is a basic method of transparency that enables individuals to make informed decisions about their health and their finances. Our investigation revealed that too many pharmacies throughout the state have flouted these consumer protection laws, potentially resulting in New Yorkers paying significantly more for medications they depend on every day.”

The Attorney General’s office determined that 38% of the pharmacies visited as part of its investigation were not complying with the law. The office’s letters required the pharmacies to come into full compliance within 15 days of receipt of the letter.