The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a major lawsuit against CVS Pharmacy Inc. for allegedly violating federal laws related to prescription opioid practices.
At a Glance
- The DOJ has accused CVS of illegal opioid prescription activities that violated the Controlled Substances Act.
- Allegations include filling prescriptions for excessive opioid quantities and billing federal insurance for them.
- The lawsuit claims CVS’s practices contributed to the opioid crisis and overdose deaths nationwide.
- CVS contests the allegations, arguing they’ve cooperated with investigations and their prescriptions were lawful.
DOJ’s Allegations Against CVS
The DOJ has charged CVS with illegal prescription practices, claiming that the chain engaged in filling and billing federal health insurance programs for opioid prescriptions that were not legal under the Controlled Substances Act. The complaint, unsealed in Providence, Rhode Island, adds that CVS filled prescriptions suspiciously, combining dangerous drugs and providing early refills.
The DOJ’s lawsuit argues that these actions facilitated the sale of unlawful opioids, contributing significantly to the nationwide opioid addiction crisis. Brian M. Boynton from the Justice Department’s Civil Division stated, “The practices alleged contributed to the opioid crisis and opioid-related deaths, and today’s complaint seeks to hold CVS accountable for its misconduct.”
The DOJ announced a lawsuit accusing CVS of filling and billing federal health insurance programs for illegal opioid prescriptions, contributing to a nationwide epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose https://t.co/YswKL4E6CQ pic.twitter.com/l6QhZ08r47
— Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) December 18, 2024
CVS’s Defense and Response
CVS denies these allegations, asserting that its prescriptions were legal and that the lawsuit unfairly assesses the company’s pharmaceutical practices. CVS has stated, “We have cooperated with the DOJ’s investigation for more than four years, and we strongly disagree with the allegations and false narrative within this complaint.” The pharmacy giant claims that labeling its operations illegal implies an evolving standard of pharmacy practice that isn’t grounded in current legal realities.
Despite these defenses, the DOJ claims CVS overlooked evidence from pharmacists about potentially unlawful prescriptions, suggesting company-enforced performance metrics pushed such questionable practices.
Impact of the Case
If CVS is found liable, it may face extensive civil penalties and treble damages for each unlawful prescription filled. The Department of Justice aims for this case to be a deterrent against similar practices across the pharmaceutical industry. In the past eight years, opioid-related settlements amounting to around $50 billion have been reached with drugmakers and pharmacies.
“Simply put, they put profits over their obligation to keep their customers safe. A pharmacy is the final step in the pharmaceutical distribution process that is in place to keep customers safe,” Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration said.
CVS asserts its commitment to resolving such matters and strengthening its opioid misuse prevention programs.
Sources
- CVS faces lawsuit over illegal opioid prescriptions
- DOJ files lawsuit against CVS alleging controlled substances violations
- DOJ files complaint against CVS for facilitating unlawful sale of prescription opioids
