Wal-Mart, Target to Pay Massachusetts for Overcharges

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp. will pay Massachusetts towns and cities $232,000 to settle claims that they overcharged public agencies for prescriptions covered by workers compensation insurance.

Attorney General Martha Coakley announced the settlement on Tuesday. It was filed in Suffolk Superior Court Monday.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart will pay $207,000. Minneapolis-based Target will pay $25,000. And both retailers will adopt measures to prevent future overcharges.

The cities and towns included in the case were Amherst, Boston, Concord, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Hingham, Lowell, Plymouth, Springfield and Worcester.

The Attorney General’s office has recovered more than $8 million through similar investigations of companies that sell prescription drugs.