Pharmacies' Unauthorized Sharing of Patient Records Exposed

A congressional inquiry has revealed that three of the largest pharmacy chains in the US, CVS Health, Kroger, and Rite Aid, have been providing prescription records to law enforcement without requiring a warrant, raising concerns about patient privacy. The other five pharmacy groups, Walgreens, Cigna, Optum Rx, Walmart, and Amazon, stated that they do require a legal review before releasing such information. The inquiry found that pharmacies receive tens of thousands of legal requests annually for patient records, with the majority being submitted in connection with civil litigation. Lawmakers are urging the Health and Human Services Department to strengthen regulations under HIPAA to align with privacy expectations and constitutional principles.