Drug safety
CVS agrees to $315 million settlement in federal opioid case
CVS will pay $315 million and add safeguards for dispensing opioids and other controlled substances, according to the Justice Department.
CVS Pharmacy and subsidiaries have agreed to pay $315 million to settle a Justice Department case over opioid prescriptions. The department alleged CVS unlawfully dispensed medically unnecessary prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances, including prescriptions from providers it described as pill mills.
The Justice Department alleged that CVS staffing levels and company performance measures contributed to pharmacists filling prescriptions without confirming they were legitimate. CVS said it disagreed with the lawsuit’s claims and that the settlement admits no wrongdoing. Under the settlement, CVS must add safeguards to ensure controlled-substance prescriptions are dispensed only when medically appropriate.
Reporting on this story
- Fierce Healthcare CVS, DOJ reach $315M settlement in opioid prescription case (opens in a new tab)
- Becker's Hospital Review CVS to pay $315M over opioid prescriptions, ‘trinity’ drug combos: Justice Department (opens in a new tab)
- MedPage Today CVS to Pay $315M to Settle Justice Department Case Over Opioid Prescriptions (opens in a new tab)
- The Hill CVS to pay $315M settlement over allegations of illegally filling opioid prescriptions (opens in a new tab)
