FTC WATCHING RITE AID, WALGREENS
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Rite Aid Corp.’s and Walgreen Co.’s consumer privacy and marketing practices. It may signal FTC scrutiny of how drugstore chains and their pharmacists work with drug companies to market certain drugs to specific consumers. Medical data has been especially sensitive as the FTC aggressively pursues protection of consumer privacy against misuse and sloppy handling of consumer data.
A Rite Aid spokeswoman told Reuters that the FTC asked for the refill reminders that Rite Aid sends patients by mail or phone, and educational materials about drugs. Camp Hill, PA-based Rite Aid anticipates the FTC will find no problems. Rite Aid disclosed the investigation in its quarterly filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Deerfield, IL-based Walgreen announced its probe two days after Rite Aid’s disclosure. The chain does not share patient-identifiable information outside the company, a spokesman told Reuters.
