OSCO PHARMACY (ALBERTSONS) RESUMES PRESCRIPTION MAILINGS

After a hiatus in 2006, our OSCO pharmacy has once again started to mail reminders to refill certain medications we purchase from them. I mention this because of a privacy incident with this pharmacist a few years ago, and the fact that, in September, 2004, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) filed a lawsuit against Albertsons for improperly using and disclosing a consumer's private and confidential medical information for purposes other than just filling prescriptions. My episode with the OSCO pharmacist involved a cavalier attitude over the safety of my Social Security number in their database, and another occasion where the checkout clerk wanted to input family personal data into Albertsons computer. The PRC case claims Albertsons was paid from $3 to $4.50 per letter it sends by the pharmaceutical companies, $12 to $15 for each phone inquiry, allegedly collecting millions annually from your private medical data. I personally confronted our Albertsons store manager about their handling of this sensitive data. To begin with, he said, he would have to contact corporate and call me back. He never did.