Walgreens Agrees to $350 Million Opioid Settlement with DOJ Amid Ongoing Accountability Measures
Walgreens settles opioid prescription claims for $350 million, denying wrongdoing while agreeing to substantial compliance improvements to address the opioid crisis.
The complaint also claims that Walgreens pressured its pharmacists to fill prescriptions quickly and without taking time to confirm that each prescription was legal.
Walgreens to pay up to $350M for filling illegal opioid prescriptions, Justice Department says
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Walgreens is among the drug manufacturers, distributors, pharmacy operators and others who have collectively in recent years agreed to pay about $50 billion to resolve lawsuits and investigations by states and local governments accusing them of helping fuel a deadly opioid addiction epidemic in the U.S.
Walgreens to pay $300 million in U.S. opioid settlement
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Amid slumping store visits and shrinking market share, Walgreens announced it was closing 1,200 stores around the country last October.
Walgreens to pay up to $350 million in U.S. opioid settlement
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The nationwide drugstore chain must pay the government at least $300 million and will owe another $50 million if the company is sold, merged or transferred before 2032, according to the settlement reached last Friday.
Walgreens to pay up to $350 million in U.S. opioid settlement | Business
CNN·3d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.Amid slumping store visits and shrinking market share, Walgreens announced it was closing 1,200 stores around the country last October.
Walgreens to pay up to $350 million in U.S. opioid settlement
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Walgreens and other drug companies paid roughly $50 billion over the years to settle lawsuits and probes that accused them of playing a key role in the United States’ opioid addiction crisis.
Walgreens to pay $300 million in opioid lawsuit settlement
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The Justice Department filed its original lawsuit against the national drugstore chain on Jan. 16, claiming that Walgreens dispensed unlawful prescriptions and then sought reimbursement for the drugs from Medicare and other federal health care programs.
Walgreens to pay $300 million to settle claims it illegally filled invalid opioids prescriptions
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Walgreens has agreed to pay up to $350 million to settle allegations that it knowingly filled millions of unlawful opioid and other controlled-substance prescriptions and submitted false claims to federal health programs, the Justice Department announced April 21.
Walgreens Agrees to Pay up to $350 Million in Civil Settlement Over Opioid Prescriptions
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Summary
Walgreens has settled with the DOJ for up to $350 million, accused of unlawfully filling millions of opioid prescriptions from 2012 to 2023. The settlement includes a $300 million payment and an additional $50 million if sold before 2032, with annual interest. Walgreens denies wrongdoing but aims to close all opioid-related litigation while focusing on its financial turnaround. The DOJ's complaint highlights Walgreens' negligence in monitoring prescription validity. The settlement includes agreements for enhanced training and compliance measures. This action coincides with broader efforts against the opioid crisis, which has resulted in over 727,000 overdose deaths since 1999.
Perspectives
Walgreens has agreed to pay up to $350 million in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, acknowledging wrongdoing in filling illegal prescriptions while maintaining a stance of no liability.
The settlement stipulates compliance reforms including enhanced training for pharmacists and improved monitoring of controlled substance prescriptions, aiming to clarify Walgreens' responsibilities moving forward.
This settlement adds to Walgreens' financial liabilities related to the opioid crisis, following prior agreements totaling billions with various state and local governments.
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