Federal prosecutors have accused CVS of contributing to the opioid crisis by filling illegal prescriptions and charging the federal government for them. The lawsuit, filed by the Department of Justice in Rhode Island, was unsealed Wednesday and claims CVS engaged in improper practices beginning in October 2013.
The DOJ alleges CVS filled excessive and dangerous opioid prescriptions despite warnings from employees and investigators. The company’s alleged negligence included inadequate staffing and pressure on pharmacists to prioritize speed, which one employee compared to running a fast-food operation.
The U.S. Department of Justice just announced a lawsuit against CVS. Here's why: pic.twitter.com/7KpPZrus4O
— TheStreet (@TheStreet) December 19, 2024
“The practices alleged contributed to the opioid crisis and opioid-related deaths,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton. The lawsuit seeks to hold CVS accountable for these actions.
Specific cases outlined in the complaint include CVS filling prescriptions for a doctor in Alabama who was under investigation until his arrest in 2016. In Pennsylvania, CVS allegedly filled thousands of prescriptions for another doctor despite similar warnings.
CVS has denied the allegations, insisting it cooperated with the DOJ during its investigation. “We strongly disagree with the allegations and false narrative within this complaint,” the company said.
Isn't CVS one of the pharmacies that has been refusing to fill Ivermectin prescriptions?
DOJ accuses CVS of billing government for illegal opioid prescriptions@MdBreathe https://t.co/moedOv6dIR via @JustTheNews
— Vicki 🇺🇲 (@NoWarningShot_) December 19, 2024
CVS knowingly dispensed 'massive' amount of invalid opioid prescriptions: DOJ lawsuit – ABC News. Caught, but nothing will happen, too much money https://t.co/4YFJvcoJhh
— terry saxton (@kerbochard) December 19, 2024
This legal action comes after CVS agreed in 2022 to pay nearly $5 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits over its role in the opioid epidemic. That settlement addressed claims by state, local and Native American tribal governments but did not involve any admission of wrongdoing.
The lawsuit stems from a whistleblower complaint, a common tool in exposing corporate misconduct in the opioid epidemic.
