$6.15M

CVS Pharmacy Inc. will pay $6.15 million to settle allegations that it overcharged for some prescriptions tied to workers' compensation insurance in four Massachusetts cities, including Worcester. The settlement was announced Monday by the office of state Attorney General Andrea Campbell. The assurance of discontinuance alleges that in some circumstances CVS failed to follow Massachusetts law and regulations that help keep costs low in the state workers' compensation insurance system. Under the terms of the settlement, CVS will work with Campbell's office to seek improvements to the Massachusetts workers' compensation billing system and establish procedures to prevent overcharges.

$1.2M

A civil case stemming from a 2021 payroll data breach at UMass Memorial Medical Center was settled for $1.2 million. About 3,178 workers, who were shorted because of a cyber break-in in December 2021 that forced the shutdown of the payroll system, will be paid in the settlement, according to federal court documents. Workers filed a lawsuit in March 2022 against UMass Memorial and its payroll management systems Kronos Inc. and UKG Inc., criticizing the hospital’s “insufficient computer security policies and practices.” A representative for UMass Memorial said the hospital would not release a statement about the settlement.

1094

A new place to get a tasty treat is Cozy Bakery & Coffee, 1094 Pleasant St., Worcester. Nicoleta Comoli of Auburn celebrated a soft opening of the storefront in early April. Originally from Romania, Comoli came to the United States about 12 years ago. She’s a single mom who spent a lot of time researching steps on how to open a small business in the city, obtaining permits and location, “doing it all on her own.” Cozy Bakery & Coffee is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.

$500

Lunenburg resident Joeci Gilchrest’s lifelong goal has always been to be happy.  She says she's successful at that as the owner of a two-person home-improvement company You Name It, which the 27-year-old runs alongside her husband, John, 30. Gilchrest was honored in April with the Andrea C. Silbert Rising Star Award by the Center for Women and Enterprise in recognition for her work in Central Massachusetts, for which she also got a $500 prize.  The award, which she received in Boston April 26, provided motivation above everything, according to her. “We all need motivation," said Gilchrest.

125

Myran Parker-Brass has been named interim CEO at Girls Inc. of Worcester, taking over a century-old agency that abruptly halted its services earlier this month. Parker-Brass, a consultant for a range of nonprofit organizations will take over until the organization maps a game plan for its future. Two weeks ago, Girls Inc., at 125 Providence St., announced it was "pausing" its programs because of staffing concerns that limit the ability "to safely and effectively" provide services. The directors placed Chief Executive Officer Victoria Waterman and Chief Operating Officer Allison James on administrative leave as it conducts an investigation into concerns raised around workplace equity issues.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Business Matters: Central Mass. by the Numbers