CVS agrees to pay $315 million in opioid settlement

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 18:02 · Archive

CVS Pharmacy has agreed to pay $315 million to settle a Justice Department case alleging it unlawfully dispensed unnecessary opioid prescriptions.

CVS Pharmacy and its subsidiaries have agreed to pay $315 million to the Justice Department to settle allegations that it unlawfully dispensed medically unnecessary opioid prescriptions. The lawsuit was brought in 2024 and accused the healthcare giant of prescribing massive amounts of opioids and other controlled substances to fuel profits at the expense of public health and safety.

The Justice Department alleged that CVS violated the Controlled Substances Act by filling illegitimate prescriptions for high doses of potent opioids based on prescriptions from known 'pill mills'—providers that hand out prescriptions without legitimate medical purpose. The case claimed these practices fed dependence and addiction.

CVS said in a statement that it strongly disagreed with the lawsuit's claims and that the settlement admits no wrongdoing. The company said its pharmacists were trained 'in the safe and appropriate use of all medications' and had implemented 'best-in-class' programs to help them make decisions on behalf of patients. It previously stated that pharmacists were held to 'vague, undefined, and ever-changing standards of practice' when filling opioid prescriptions.

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward called the settlement 'a significant milestone' in the Justice Department's efforts to combat the opioid epidemic by cracking down on pharmacies that unlawfully fulfil prescriptions for controlled substances.

How it is being reported

• CVS agrees to pay $315 million to settle Justice Department case over opioid prescriptionsCVS Pharmacy Inc. and various subsidiaries have agreed to pay $315 million to resolve a Justice Department case alleging it unlawfully dispensed medically unnecessary prescriptions of highly addictive opioids.News4Jax · 13 Oct, 17:38
• CVS agrees to pay $315 million to settle Justice Department case over opioid prescriptionsCVS Pharmacy Inc. and various subsidiaries have agreed to pay $315 million to resolve a Justice Department case alleging it unlawfully dispensed medically unnecessary prescriptions of highly addictive opioids.Clickorlando · 13 Oct, 17:38

In this story: CVS Pharmacy · Justice Department · Stanley Woodward · Joe Biden

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem