CVS to Pay $315M in Opioid Settlement as Justice Department Cracks Down
CVS Pharmacy agrees to pay $315 million to settle opioid prescription allegations, marking a major step in the Justice Department's fight against the addicti...
POLICY WIRE — Washington, United States — CVS Pharmacy Inc. has agreed to pay $315 million to resolve a Justice Department case alleging that it unlawfully dispensed medically unnecessary prescriptions of highly addictive opioids, officials announced Tuesday.
The settlement addresses a lawsuit filed in 2024 that accused the healthcare giant of providing large quantities of opioids and other controlled substances “to fuel its own profits at the expense of public health and safety.” The case is part of broader efforts by the federal government to hold companies accountable for their role in the U.S. opioid crisis.
“Today’s settlement is a significant milestone in the Justice Department’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic by cracking down on pharmacies who unlawfully fulfill prescriptions for controlled substances,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward in a statement. CVS stated it strongly disagreed with the claims but accepted the settlement without admitting wrongdoing, emphasizing its commitment to safe medication practices.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
