CVS to enforce extra requirements for employees on insurance - KATV - Breaking News, Weather and Razorback Sports

(ABC) - Is it an invasion of privacy or a way to entice workers to improve their health?

CVS, one of the nation's largest drug store chains, has told its 200,000 employees across the country they must have a doctor verify their weight, body fat, blood pressure and other levels or face a $600 annual penalty on their health insurance.

Patient's rights advocates are crying foul, some calling it "technology-enhanced discrimination on steroids."

In an e-mail, CVS explained their benefits program is evolving "to help our colleagues take more responsibility for improving their health and...managing health associated costs." CVS also claims the company never sees the test results, saying the doctors give the results to an independent company for review but there are plenty of skeptics.

The company gave workers until May 2014 to decide.