CVS to pay $315 million to settle DOJ opioid lawsuit

CVS Pharmacy Inc. and its subsidiaries have agreed to pay $315 million to settle a Justice Department case. The lawsuit accused the healthcare giant of unlawfully dispensing medically unnecessary prescriptions for highly addictive opioids.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit that alleged CVS fueled its own profits at the expense of public health and safety by distributing massive amounts of opioids. This action is the latest in federal efforts to hold accountable companies officials claim fueled the U.S. addiction and overdose crisis.

CVS stated that its pharmacists were trained in safe medication use and that the company had implemented programs to aid their decision-making. However, the company disagreed with the lawsuit's claims and noted the settlement admits no wrongdoing. The Justice Department alleged that poor staffing levels and incentive policies led pharmacists to dispense prescriptions without verifying their legitimacy, with many then billed to federal healthcare programs.

Under the settlement, CVS must implement additional safeguards to ensure opioid and controlled substance prescriptions are dispensed only when medically appropriate. Over the past decade, drugmakers, wholesalers, and pharmacies have agreed to settlements totaling over $50 billion with governments in the U.S. to address the opioid crisis.