Save Lives Free the Condoms

FREE AT LAST!! DC has unlocked their condoms!

2010-04-07T03:06:00.000-04:00

After years of hard work on the street, on the phone, writing letters, and analyzing reports, CVS has finally "Free'd the Condoms!!!" Every single last store in the District has varying degree's of freedom but all of the condoms are out of click boxes and on an open shelf.

CVS also has finally started carrying female condoms. While their prices are still high and at times they don't stock the Magnum condoms (choice of brand in the community) progress is being made!

CVS in foggy bottom by GWU's Student Center 2000 Penn

2009-10-15T04:39:00.003-04:00

This CVS on The George Washington University's campus located at 2000 Pennsylvania Avnue, NW is notorious for NOT keeping their wing aisle stocked.

basically you can count on it never being stocked. It has not been stocked in 3 weeks.

Changes at CVS. . . but are there?

2009-10-15T02:24:00.003-04:00

CVS made a deal with DC Council a couple months ago that in 60 days from July 1st that they were going to unclick their condoms!!! It seems that of the couple that I have been to they have released the condoms. HOWEVER as far as keeping the condoms stocked and shelved that is for another story.

Just check out the CVS in Columbia Heights:

When I spoke to not only the Store Assistant Manager she said "YA, so they like get stolen, so there is no reason to stalk them." The Metropolitan Polic Officer on duty nodded is head and agreed. DEPLORABLE.

The Condom Queen is on the Scene. . . on the Power Wings

2009-06-16T02:44:00.005-04:00

Looks like the Watergate CVS got there first power wing- and guess what ladies and gents? It is FULLY LOADED and FULLY STOCKED! Now, I will need to check back in and chat with the manager to see about its progress. Yes indeed that kids at GW and surrounding neighbors do steal too. This I have had confirmed by store managers!

To my dismay the CVS on 20th and Penn which I frequent (I mean really you have to basically shop there- and I love the employees there!) had this power wing understocked for DAYS. . .

Here it is when I first spotted it on a Thursday:

And here it is when I spotted it on a Monday:

Some make excuses about the fact that it was not restocked and the "shipment" was coming. . . I said "I will gladly walk upstairs and haul some condoms from your supply upstairs and stock your power wing downstairs!" I got really angry and said I would be posting a blog and one of the many really nice managers promised he would get it fixed. . . and he did!

Old News but still News about CVS. . . CVS will pay $2.25 million to Government after violating HIPAA

2009-06-15T02:36:00.000-04:00

CVS Pays $2.25 Million and Toughens Practices to Settle HIPAA Privacy Case
(this article taken directly from the HHS Press Room @
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/02/20090218a.html)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today announced that CVS, the nation’s largest retail pharmacy chain, will pay the U.S. government a $2.25 million settlement and take corrective action to ensure it does not violate the privacy of its millions of patients when disposing of patient information such as identifying information on pill bottle labels.

The settlement, which applies to all of CVS’s more than 6,000 retail pharmacies, follows an extensive investigation by the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule.

In a coordinated action, CVS Caremark Corp., the parent company of the pharmacy chain, also signed a consent order with the FTC to settle potential violations of the FTC Act.

OCR, which enforces the Privacy Rule, opened its investigation of CVS pharmacy compliance with the Privacy Rule after media reports alleged that patient information maintained by the pharmacy chain was being disposed of in industrial trash containers outside selected stores that were not secure and could be accessed by the public. At the same time, the FTC opened an investigation of CVS.

OCR and the FTC conducted their investigations jointly. This is the first instance in which OCR has coordinated investigation and resolution of a case with the FTC.

“OCR is committed to strong enforcement of the HIPAA Privacy Rule to protect patients’ rights to privacy of their health information. We hope that this agreement will spur other health organizations to examine and improve their privacy protections for patient information during the disposal process,” said Robinsue Frohboese, acting director of OCR. “Such safeguards will benefit consumers everywhere.”

The Privacy Rule requires health plans, health care clearinghouses and most health care providers (covered entities), including most pharmacies, to safeguard the privacy of patient information, including such information during its disposal.

Among other issues, the reviews by OCR and the FTC indicated that:

* CVS failed to implement adequate policies and procedures to appropriately safeguard patient information during the disposal process; and
* CVS failed to adequately train employees on how to dispose of such information properly.

Under the HHS resolution agreement, CVS agreed to pay a $2.25 million resolution amount and implement a robust corrective action plan that requires Privacy Rule compliant policies and procedures for safeguarding patient information during disposal, employee training and employee sanctions for noncompliance.

HHS and FTC also will require CVS to actively monitor its compliance with the resolution agreement and FTC consent order. The monitoring requirement specifies that CVS must engage a qualified independent third party to conduct assessments of CVS compliance and render reports to the federal agencies. The HHS corrective action plan will be in place for three years; the FTC requires monitoring for 20 years.

The HHS Resolution Agreement and Corrective Action Plan can be found on the OCR Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/enforcement/examples/cvsresolutionagreement.html.

OCR has posted new FAQs that address the HIPAA Privacy Rule requirements for disposal of protected health information. They can be found on the OCR Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/index.html.
Information about the FTC Consent Order agreement is available at http://www.ftc.gov.

Thank you to The Sexiest!

2009-05-22T13:37:00.008-04:00

Please Check out how reporter Amanda Hess aka "The Sexiest" from the Washington City Paper also discovered how CVS continues to make condoms inaccessible to DC residents. . . .

Click here. . .

You might also find a few things that I said!

We truly appreciate The Sexiest and ALL DC Resident's for SAYING "NO" to CVS's practices!!!!

CVS continues to RIP off the Black Community!

2009-02-06T15:29:00.009-05:00

CVS 36 Pack of Magnum Condoms. . .

$25.99

(and I might add they are out in the open in the foggy bottom area, but are LOCKED UP on NAYLOR ROAD!)

Target in Columbia Heights THE VERY SAME 36 pack of Magnum Condoms. . .

$15.39

and what do you know . . . NOT LOCKED UP!!!!

CVS JUMBO Condoms and JUMBO prices!!!!

2008-12-29T02:55:00.008-05:00

Why is a 36 pack of Magnum Brand Trojan Condoms at Target in Salt Lake City, Utah $13.99 but in DC a 12-pack of Magnum Brand Trojan Condoms are $13.99. . . . I will tell you why. . . CVS tries to make a buck on POOR black people. . . that is the bottom line.

Thank you Target for making Condoms affordable to prevent the spread of STD's and HIV/AIDS!!!

CVS YOU ARE STILL DEPLORABLE!!!!

If Utah is not locking up Condoms. . .

2008-12-22T05:02:00.004-05:00

. . . then DC ought to get the picture!
I am home for the holidays and of course I have perused the local Smith's Food and Drug/Marketplace (A Kroger's Company) and NO, there condoms are not locked up!
If Utah one of the most conservative states in the nation where people would feel like they would need to steal is NOT locked up. . . CVS really should re-think their policies. .
FURTHERMORE, Magnum condoms are nearly $3 less!
Shame on CVS and their high prices marketed directly to black people.

Save Lives Free the Condoms at "Get Tested with Go-Go"

2008-12-06T19:31:00.008-05:00

The "Get Tested with Go-Go" Event sponsored by Metro TeenAids, the DC Department of Health, Metropolitan Police Department, Toys for Tots, DC parks and Recreations had a huge turnout last night!

We were able to get the word out about our efforts to Save Lives and Free the Condoms! We passed out 2000 condoms and spoke with many young people.
The youth of today already knew that they were victim of restricted access to condoms. Frankly, that says a lot . . .

AGAIN, CVS we want equal access of condoms for everyone.

How does HIV/AIDS affect Washington DC? Tomorrow December 1st is Worlds AIDS day

2008-11-30T12:53:00.005-05:00

CVS, HIV/AIDS is preventable unlock and remove your condoms from click boxes so that all DC residents have equal access to condoms to fight the epidemic that plagues men, women and children.

An excerpt from "Fight HIV in DC" website:

Spotlight: HIV/AIDS and Children in the District of Columbia Despite extensive efforts and improvements nationally in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in children, the District of Columbia continues to have disproportionately high numbers of HIV/AIDS cases among children less than 13 years of age.

Over the past five years, the District had 56 children under 13 years old diagnosed with either HIV or AIDS. In 2005, the District accounted for nine percent of all pediatric AIDS cases in the United States.

For more information about World Aids Day Events in the District Please Visit this Link:
http://www.fighthivindc.org/2007/12/dc-world-aids-day-2008-december-1st.html
How the District’s epidemic compares to the country and other major cities.
• The District had the highest AIDS case rate nationally (128.4 cases per 100,000 population in the District compared to 14.0 cases per 100,000 population in the United States).
• The District’s rate for newly reported AIDS cases is higher than rates in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Detroit, and Chicago.
Late testing, faster progression of the disease, and missed opportunities for prevention and treatment.
• Between 1997 and 2006, almost 70% of all AIDS cases progressed from HIV to AIDS in less than 12 months after the initial HIV diagnosis, primarily due to late testing. Nationally, only 39% of AIDS cases are late testers. This means that the individual was first diagnosed with HIV and shortly thereafter the disease had advanced to AIDS, decreasing the person’s life expectancy and increasing the cost of care and treatment – both which could have been avoided with earlier testing.
More children are being born with HIV or AIDS when medical treatment can completely prevent mother-to-child transmission.
• The District accounted for nine percent of all pediatric AIDS cases in the United States during
2005. Between 2001 and 2006, there were 56 children ages 13 or younger diagnosed with either
HIV or AIDS in the District of Columbia. Many states reported no new cases among children
during this same time period.
Heterosexual contact leads new transmissions.
• Roughly 37% of newly reported HIV cases in the District were transmitted through heterosexual contact; followed by 27% through men having sex with men (MSM); 14% through intravenous drug use; and 22% from an unknown mode of transmission. Nationally, MSM remains the leading mode of transmission for new HIV cases.
Women are a growing proportion of the District’s epidemic.
• The number of women living with AIDS has increased by more than 76% over the past six years. The District has a larger number of newly reported HIV cases among females (47 cases per 100,000 residents) than in other jurisdictions.
Black community is hardest hit by the epidemic.
• Although black residents account for only 57% of the District’s population, they account for 81% of new reports of HIV cases and approximately 86% of living AIDS cases. Black women constitute only 58% of the District’s female population, but they account for 90% of all new female HIV cases and 93% of living AIDS cases among women.

Food and Friends Discussion

2008-11-23T20:18:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone,

This isn't an article on condom accessibility directly, but it relates to an organization that is very active in the HIV/AIDS community here in the District, and specifically some of the issues of Executive compensation that are occasionally brought to light.

This post is also in direct response to a discussion from our community activism class at GWU.

Article

Response

CVS Caremark accused of violating patient privacy

2008-11-17T13:57:00.000-05:00

Change to Win, a group of several labor unions, on Friday will launch a campaign alleging that CVS Caremark violated patient privacy and improperly marketed an expensive diabetes drug, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to CTW, a letter sent by CVS to physicians urged them to add Merck's diabetes treatment Januvia to the treatment of certain diabetes patients identified through a review of prescription drug claims handled by CVS Caremark, CVS' pharmacy benefit manager unit.

According to the Journal, CTW believes the practice violates patient privacy rights and the letter is an example of how CVS might be taking advantage of employers that have hired the company to manage their workers' prescription drug benefits. A recent study found that Januvia is nearly eight times more expensive than other diabetes medications. In addition, some medical experts have said older or generic treatments that cost less may be just as beneficial to patients as Januvia. The Journal reports that PBMs in recent years have been accused of favoring treatments that result in rebates from the drugmakers and large profit margins.

A spokesperson for Merck said that the pharmaceutical company paid for the mailing "to help inform physicians about additional treatment options," adding that "no personal information about patient participants in the plan are provided to Merck." A line at the bottom of the letter indicated that Merck paid for the mailing, but Merck and CVS officials have declined to disclose how much the drugmaker paid or whether the mailing campaign helped increase sales of Januvia, the Journal reports.

CVS officials said the company does not attempt to improperly switch patients to more costly treatments. The company officials added that the letter was part of a program intended to inform physicians and that doctors ultimately make the final decision on drug prescriptions.

CTW Executive Director Chris Chafe said his organization -- which is comprised of unions, including Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union, which represent about six million workers, including several thousand CVS employees -- hopes that the campaign will help change state laws to force PBMs to disclose to customers all payments or rebates received from drugmakers; cap the amount of patient information PBMs are permitted to disclose; and require that any change in drugs results in lower costs for the PBM's customers (Armstrong, Wall Street Journal, 11/14).

CVS, Community Hypocrites

2008-11-17T11:54:00.007-05:00

On November 17th the following memo was distributed to the George Washington University Medical School and School of Public Health:

TO: GWUMC Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: John F. Williams, MD, MPH, EdD
SUBJECT: Food & Friends “Slice of Life”
DATE: November 13, 2008

Dear Medical Center Colleagues:

At this time of year, I am especially grateful to members of the GW Medical Center community and for our collective work that contributes to the health and well-being of the world around us. I am also more mindful of the individuals that we serve. Those living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other critical illnesses suffer not only from pain and symptoms of their diseases, but from financial concerns due to loss of work and medical bills and daily strain to accomplish simple tasks like shopping or preparing a healthy meal.

This Thanksgiving season, the GW Medical Center has partnered with Food & Friends, a non-profit organization that prepares, packages and delivers meals and groceries to people in the greater Washington area who live with life-challenging illnesses. This year, Food & Friends will deliver full holiday meals to approximately 3,500 clients and their families in the region battling diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer. That’s an astonishing number that speaks to the enormous needs of our neighbors.

I invite you to join me in participating in Food & Friends’ annual “Slice of Life” bake sale. We can help make a difference in the lives of thousands of men, women and children simply by purchasing our holiday pies from Food & Friends. You can buy pumpkin, apple crumb, pecan, or creamy chocolate cheesecake--for your own holiday gathering, or donate them to Food & Friends’ clients to be included with their Thanksgiving meal. The proceeds from each pie will go directly to Food & Friends, allowing them to continue their vital work in our communities.

If you would like to participate, simply call (202) 269-6826 or click here to be directed to the GW Medical Center Team page on the Slice of Life website. You can also find more details on the Slice of Life posters hung around Ross Hall and the GW Hospital. The pies will be available for pick-up on Tuesday, November 25, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at one of 16 CVS pharmacy locations that you select throughout the District and in nearby Virginia and Maryland. As an added benefit for participating, if the GW Medical Center team sells more than 100 pies, our order will be delivered directly to campus.

Please join me in supporting Food & Friends in this worthy endeavor. To date, the GW Medical Center Team has raised $125 for this event—I’m sure we can add to that number. Thank you to those who have already made a purchase. It is my hope that the GW Medical Center community can make a significant contribution to this organization again this year through our support.

With thanks,

John F. Williams, MD, EdD, MPH Provost and Vice President for Health Affairs

PS: The pies are really delicious too!

CVS, WHY are you sponsoring a "slice of life" when you restrict access to condoms that prevent illnesses like HIV/AIDS that plaque the DC community that are you so "generously" serving?

REMOVE THE CONDOMS FROM THE CLICK BOXES and UNLOCK THE CONDOMS. The people of this community would prefer to NOT contract HIV/AIDS in the FIRST PLACE!

Most Single Adults Not Using Condoms

2008-11-12T13:15:00.001-05:00

TUESDAY, Nov. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Six out of every 10 middle-aged Britons do not use a condom during a first-time sexual encounter, a new study shows.

Those numbers might be similar for Americans, one expert said. "Data in the U.S. are likely comparable and, given prevailing policies with regard to contraception, may be worse," said Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.

In fact, U.S. rates of all STDs, including HIV, have been increasing with an estimated 19 million new cases each year and more than 1 million people living with HIV. Almost half of the new cases of STDs are among people 15 to 24, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But older adults are at risk, too. "Often it's assumed that sexually transmitted infections are just increasing among young people, but U.K. surveillance data shows that sexually transmitted infection diagnosis rates are on the increase among all age groups in the U.K.," said Catherine Mercer, the study's lead researcher and a lecturer at the Centre for Sexual Health & HIV Research at University College London.

Most Britons engaging in unprotected sex are in their 30s and 40s and in relationships where there is an age difference of five or more years, according to the report, which was published in the Nov. 12 online edition of the International Journal of Epidemiology.

"Low rates of condom use among those starting partnerships in their 30s and 40s means that they too are at great risk of sexual infections," Mercer said.

For the study, Mercer's group collected data on more than 11,000 men and women who participated in the second British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. The survey included questions on recent partnerships, condom use and how soon after meeting they had sex.

Among all the people surveyed, almost 9,600 reported having heterosexual sexual partners in the past 12 months. More men (39.1 percent) than women (20 percent) said that these relationships were "not regular," the researchers reported.

More women (55.2 percent) than men (38.9 percent) said their partnerships were marriages, or involved living together with the partner. Men reported having sex sooner after a first date than women. One in five men said they had sex within 24 hours after meeting their partner compared with one in 10 women.

Over all age groups, condoms were used by 55.3 percent of the partners during their first sexual encounter. However, the rate of condom use declined with advancing age. For example, among 16- to 19-year-olds, 68 percent of males and 67.4 percent of females used a condom during a first sexual encounter, while among 35- to 44-year-olds only 38.1 percent of men and 28.8 percent of women used a condom.

In addition, in relationships where there was an age difference of five years or more, 60.8 percent were unlikely to use a condom during a first sexual encounter, compared with 44.1 percent of partners who were closer in age.

According to Mercer, rates of STDs are increasing in the U.K. In fact, the Health Protection Agency found a 6 percent increase in the number of new STDs in 2007 compared with 2006.

Additional research found that in one area of England, the rate of STDs more than doubled between 1996 and 2003.

"Everyone starting a new sexual relationship, regardless of age, should use condoms and continue to do so, until they and their partner have both been tested for sexually transmitted infections," Mercer said.

People ignore condoms at their peril, Katz added.

"Consistent use of condoms is the most reliable way of preventing HIV transmission next to abstinence, and is effective in preventing other transmissible diseases and unintended pregnancy as well," Katz said.

The lack of condom use by mature adults in the British study is noteworthy and disturbing, Katz said. "These are likely people who know about condoms and can get them. There is clearly a need to better educate men and women about the hazards of unprotected sex, and the advantages of condom use. Easy access to condoms should be a priority as well," he said.

More information

For more on STDs, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

CVS wants people to get pregnant

2008-11-10T11:53:00.002-05:00

CHICAGO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - CVS Caremark Corp (CVS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Monday it is offering discounts on fertility treatments to couples struggling with infertility and high medication costs.

The program is aimed at patients who do not have fertility medication health insurance coverage

CVS offers lower-cost fertility medications

Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:54am EST

CVS could not immediately provide details on the pricing of its plan.

CVS said about 7.3 million U.S. women and their partners, or about 12 percent of the reproductive-age population, are affected by infertility, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CVS is promoting the fertility treatment savings plan just as it rolls out a low-cost plan for common generic drugs. Under a plan launched on Sunday, shoppers can get 90-day prescriptions for more than 400 generic medications for $9.99 each at CVS drugstores when they pay an annual fee of $10.

About 45.7 million Americans were uninsured in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Reporting by Jessica Wohl; Editing by Brian Moss)

CVS to start offering mini-spas

2008-11-04T11:08:00.001-05:00

Ok, so, this just seems inane. In one area of our city, the customers are going to be offered even more high end beauty products and a mini-spa treatment...whereas 5 miles away, in another part of our city, the customers have to ask for their condoms to be unlocked for them...along with lots of other merchandise. This just doesn't add up.

CVS to open mini-spa service stores

CVS to launch Beauty 360 to offer mini-manicures in stores adjacent to pharmacies

November 03, 2008: 11:19 AM EST

NEW YORK (Associated Press) - CVS Caremark Corp. said Monday it would open new beauty products stores next to its pharmacies that offer quick-service spa services.

CVS said its new Beauty 360 stores will employ licensed professionals trained to do mini-manicures, express facials, hand massages and make-up.

The first Beauty 360 to open is at CVS's Dupont Circle store in Washington, D.C. A second one will open next month in Mission Viejo, Calif. Those locations will sell brands such as Canyon Ranch, Clarins Fragrance, Elizabeth Arden Fragrance, Ahava, Borba and others.

The company is looking at other potential markets for 2009 launch.

CVS on NAYLOR ROAD, SE Ward 8 is LOCKED UP

2008-10-30T10:20:00.022-04:00

2646 Naylor Road, SE
Ward 8

What do you know??? The condoms are locked up- the Manager tried to tell me and another team member at first that he lost the money in Condoms, I then followed up with the question:
"Sir, you mean to tell me that our of all the products in the entire store you LOSE the most money in CONDOMS???"
I kept talking as I tend to do. .
"There are more products in the store that are more expensive to 'steal'"
The manager then retracted his comments and said that "No no, I don't lose the most money in condoms. . . "

In the 51 stores in the District of Columbia the Naylor Road location is the ONLY CVS that has some of their condoms locked up.
The ONLY CVS that had their Jumbo packs locked up. . . the CVS close to Howard University had their Condoms in Click Boxes but NOT their Jumbo Packs. . . does this make sense?
(1900 7th Street, NW- close to Howard University)
LOSS PREVENTION????
I think not. . .
We also discovered the following at the Naylor Road location:

Empty cases- in which the managers comment was "that's what THEY do. . .THEY steal it"
which my team member and I thought was interesting because walk a few steps away and this is what you will find free and open in the aisle:
So if the "they" could steal why wouldn't "they" steal the ones that were in the open??? why go to the trouble of busting open the click boxes??

Also some of the click boxes were broken and not functioning correctly!

The actions of CVS is amoral. . . more information to come about the HIV/AIDS rates in Ward 8. . .

Charting Birth Control Access in DC

2008-10-30T10:12:00.003-04:00

Well, it's official. Access to reproductive choice is on the radar of not just our little group anymore. The Washington City Paper today reported that they will be charting the pharmacies in the District to identify which ones are filling prescriptions for birth control and the abortion pill, no questions asked and which ones are dispensing a side of moral opinion instead. The City Paper will be updating it's findings on it's website, and we'll post updates about it as well.

If you know of a place that has refused to fill a prescription related to reproductive rights, or have had issues with a pharmacist passing judgment on your prescription needs, let us know!

Drugs stolen at CVS pharmacy...not condoms

2008-10-29T14:07:00.001-04:00

Yet another story about drugs being stolen from a CVS...tell me...where are the stories about condoms being stolen from CVS? I'm still waiting.

CVS in scandal...but are we really surprised?

2008-10-29T10:01:00.002-04:00

Former Blue Cross executive dropped in Operation Dollar Bill probe
01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, October 29, 2008
By Mike Stanton

Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE –– Thomas A. Lynch, the former Warwick state senator and Blue Cross executive who was a prominent figure in the origins of Operation Dollar Bill, is no longer under investigation in the long-running State House corruption probe.

A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente confirmed yesterday that Lynch was sent a letter last week informing him that he is no longer a target of a grand-jury investigation, similar to a letter that went out on Oct. 15 to former Senate President William V. Irons.

As the $250,000-a-year vice president and chief lobbyist for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Lynch drew on relationships developed in his earlier two decades in the Senate to advocate for the state’s largest health insurer. He golfed and schmoozed with lawmakers, paid Irons’ greens fees and rented his family’s Nantucket summer home to the family of then-Speaker John B. Harwood.

Several months before Blue Cross and Lynch parted ways in November 2004, the new Senate president, Joseph A. Montalbano, went to bat for his former colleague, calling him “a friend” who had done a “wonderful job” representing Blue Cross’s interests in the Senate.

But Lynch had also helped put another former senator, John A. Celona, on TV, in a public-access cable show financed by Blue Cross over the objections of Lynch’s subordinates at Blue Cross. At the time, Celona chaired the Senate committee that regulated health care.

After The Providence Journal revealed the arrangement, the authorities launched what quickly grew into a wide-ranging influence-peddling probe. Celona wound up in prison, after admitting to selling his office to Blue Cross, CVS and Roger Williams Medical Center. Last December, Blue Cross avoided criminal charges against the company by taking responsibility for the actions of unnamed former executives in corrupting politicians, and agreeing to contribute $20 million for affordable health care in Rhode Island.

But Lynch, who left Blue Cross in November 2004, will not be charged.

Lynch did not respond to requests for comment. The letter from the U.S. Attorney’s office, dated Oct. 20, was sent to the Boston office of Lynch’s late lawyer, Richard M. Egbert, who died earlier this year.

In an interview last week, Corrente, speaking generally, said some of the cases spawned by Operation Dollar Bill are bumping up against statute-of-limitations deadlines and that prosecutors have to make decisions in the coming months about whether they have enough evidence to move forward.

When Celona was sentenced to 2½ years in prison early last year, a federal prosecutor told the judge that the ex-lawmaker’s cooperation had resulted in active investigations of seven politicians and seven companies. But since then, authorities have seen Celona’s credibility eroded following withering cross-examinations in corruption trials involving Roger Williams and CVS.

Convictions of Celona, ex-House Majority Leader Gerard M. Martineau and former Roger Williams president Robert Urciuoli have been balanced by the acquittals of two CVS executives and, now, the dropped investigations of Irons and Lynch. Other investigations, including one probing the legislative ties of Beacon Mutual Insurance Co., remain active.

Sen. William Walaska, D-Warwick, a business partner of Lynch’s, said the shadow of the investigation has taken its toll. Although Lynch, a lawyer, maintains a law office in Providence, Walaska said Lynch has been selling credit-card services to small businesses. Lynch is also a minority owner in Walaska’s auto-parts business.

“I wonder if they sent him an apology, and a check for the money he spent [on legal fees],” said Walaska. “I’m sure it’s been a struggle. You wake up every morning thinking: Is today going to be the day? It costs you your livelihood. The question is, how can you get it back again?"

CDC: New HIV Infections Higher than Previously Estimated 8/4/2008

2008-10-28T02:31:00.000-04:00

CVS Exposed: Benning Road, NE vs. Woodley Park, NW

2008-10-28T01:24:00.005-04:00

Benning Road, NE (predominantly black neighborhood). . . . The Pain Relievers make sense as far as loss prevention, they are top on the list of items that are stolen the most, but the condoms. . . not so much.

Woodley Park, NW (predominantly white neighborhood)

San Diego under lock down

2008-10-23T11:12:00.002-04:00

Seems that the condom locking was also happening in San Diego...

Pharmacies--too much autonomy?

2008-10-22T12:58:00.001-04:00

I know this isn't about condoms being locked up, but it's definitely related to pharmacies, and I'm shocked that as a rule this pharmacy doesn't sell birth control of any kind.

To see the article, click here.