The Virginia Board of Pharmacy issued a $75,000 fine to a Salem CVS drugstore in May, making it one of the five largest financial penalties given by the agency in the past five years. The sanctions were based on findings of a dozen violations, including failure to safeguard drug supplies, understaffing, and prescription errors in 2021 and 2022. CVS did not admit or deny the findings but stated that all issues had been addressed and resolved.
In 2022, the largest fine issued by the board was $346,250 against a Virginia Beach CVS. The store was found to have committed numerous medication-dispensing errors due to severe understaffing. The Virginia Beach CVS has appealed the penalty to court, according to board spokeswoman Kelly Smith.
Other significant fines issued by the Virginia Board of Pharmacy in recent years include $100,000 against Pharmacy Services America in Rocky Mount in 2021, $100,000 against the pharmacy at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in 2021, and $50,000 against Landsdowne Pharmacy in Loudon County in 2020, as reported by state officials.