DOJ Sues CVS for Unlawful Dispensing of Opioids Since Oct. 17, 2013, Across 9,000 Pharmacies

Dec 19, 2024, 04:20 AM

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit against CVS Health Corp., alleging that the company knowingly dispensed controlled substances, including opioids, in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act. The lawsuit claims that CVS filled prescriptions for dangerous and excessive quantities of opioids, as well as 'trinity' prescriptions, a combination of an opioid, a benzodiazepine, and a muscle relaxant, from October 17, 2013, to the present. The DOJ accuses CVS of ignoring substantial evidence from its own pharmacists and internal data that indicated the dispensing of unlawful prescriptions. The complaint also alleges that CVS sought reimbursement from federal health care programs for these prescriptions, violating the False Claims Act. CVS, which operates over 9,000 pharmacies across the U.S., has stated that it has cooperated with the DOJ's investigation for over four years and strongly disagrees with the allegations, describing them as a 'false narrative.'