Bed-Stuy Pharmacy Charged Illegal COVID Vaccine Fees, AG Says

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — A local pharmacy was forced to pay back thousands of dollars after wrongly charging its patients for their COVID-19 vaccines, according to the attorney general.

Fulton Drugs, found on Fulton Street near Albany Avenue, charged 175 patients between $20 and $25 for the coronavirus vaccine during just a few weeks in early 2021, according to the Attorney General Letitia James.

The pharmacy was one of two in New York City that went under investigation for the charges after New Yorkers reported the fees in March of last year, James said. Providers are not allowed to charge patients for the coronavirus vaccine given a state program that ensures the shot is free for all New Yorkers, regardless of insurance.

“Make no mistake: COVID vaccines are free to all who seek them,” James said in a release. “New Yorkers should not be charged fees to receive the vaccines. If they are, my office will work to ensure they are reimbursed for the charges.”

Both Fulton Drugs and the second pharmacy, Embassy Pharmacy in Manhattan, have reimbursed patients who were wrongfully charged the fees, James said.

Embassy Pharmacy had charged 275 consumers $25 each for the vaccinations, the AG said.

Both pharmacies will also be required to create stronger training programs for staff to prevent the fees from being charged in the future, according to the AG's order.

“Cost barriers for vaccination are incredibly dangerous, even when applied by mistake,” Council Member Chi Ossé said about the investigation. “It is encouraging to see the Attorney General's Office securing these reimbursements, as well as to know that stronger training and other measures will prevent this mistake from being repeated in the future.”

Fulton Drugs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Patch.

If New Yorkers are aware of providers improperly charging consumers a fee for administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, they should contact the Office of the Attorney General’s Health Care Bureau online or call 1-800-428-9071.