Louisiana to Sue CVS Health Over Text Campaign Against Pharmacy Benefit Manager Bill
BATON ROUGE — Louisiana officials are initiating a lawsuit against CVS Health for sending unsolicited texts to residents to rally opposition against proposed legislation detrimental to its business. Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry announced a major legal action during a news conference on Tuesday.
The controversy arose during the legislative session when lawmakers attempted to pass a bill that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) like CVS from owning retail drugstores in the state. CVS argued that the legislation would lead to the closure of over 100 stores. A last-minute amendment to insert anti-PBM language into a bill was deemed inappropriate, as it restricted public hearings and feedback.
In response, CVS reached out directly to consumers, prompting the state to issue a cease and desist order. Officials termed the texts as "unsolicited and unwanted," claiming they contained "inaccurate and deceptive statements" about the legislation. The messages were sent to both CVS customers and non-customers, violating Louisiana laws concerning personal data.
While the original bill, known as HB 358, failed, an alternative bill promoting transparency among pharmacies passed. A separate lawsuit has been filed alleging ethical violations in CVS’s messaging tactics.
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