OHIO — The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy announced Thursday a settlement agreement with CVS Health to resolve 27 cases pending against 22 stores in Ohio. 

Allegations against the stores included prescription delays, improper drug security, dispensing errors, lack of general cleanliness, understaffing and failure to report losses of controlled substances.

As part of the settlement, CVS must comply with the following:

• Pay the board a monetary penalty of $1,250,000
• Eight of the stores — ones in Reynoldsburg, Dayton, Wooster, Coshocton, Columbus, Springfield and Toledo — will be on probation for three years
• Pay around $83,000 each year to the board to cover the cost of enhanced monitoring by the board, racking up an additional penalty of $250,000
• Must appoint an Ohio Compliance Liason who will be a licensed Ohio pharmacists to handle communications between the board and CVS over compliance
• Stores involved in the settlement must voluntarily comply with many of the Board's proposed minimum standards
• Make changes to current electronic record-keeping system 
• Acknowledge that virtual verification is not authorized for use at any pharmacy in the state unless it's board approved

“By entering into this settlement agreement, the Board seeks immediate and systemic changes to protect patients and address critical understaffing,” said State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy Executive Director Steven Schierholt. “We believe that this agreement is an acknowledgement by CVS that considerable changes are warranted to ensure the safe practice of pharmacy at their retail stores.”

Earlier this month, the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy fined a Canton CVS $250,000 for failure to fill prescriptions on time and severe understaffing. The store is also under a three-year probation.