DOJ Sues CVS Over Prescription Practices

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a nationwide lawsuit against CVS Pharmacy Inc., alleging unlawful prescription practices that contributed to the opioid crisis.

At a Glance

The DOJ accuses CVS of violating the Controlled Substances Act and False Claims Act.
The lawsuit claims CVS filled unlawful prescriptions without proper validation.
CVS allegedly prioritized profits over patient safety through corporate policies.
If found liable, CVS could face substantial civil penalties and damages.
CVS denies the allegations and plans to defend itself against the lawsuit.

DOJ Files Nationwide Lawsuit Against CVS

The U.S. Department of Justice has taken a significant step in addressing the ongoing opioid crisis by filing a nationwide lawsuit against CVS Pharmacy Inc. and its subsidiaries. The lawsuit alleges that CVS violated both the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the False Claims Act (FCA) through its prescription dispensing practices. This legal action represents a major effort to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their alleged role in the opioid epidemic that has devastated communities across America.

The DOJ’s complaint covers prescriptions filled from October 17, 2013, to the present. It accuses CVS of filling prescriptions for excessive quantities of opioids, allowing early refills, and dispensing dangerous drug combinations known as “trinity” prescriptions. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that CVS filled prescriptions from known “pill mill” prescribers, effectively enabling the unlawful distribution of narcotics.

The Justice Department on Wednesday accused CVS Pharmacy of incentivizing pharmacists to fill illegal opioid prescriptions for more than a decade, a practice that fueled the nation’s opioid crisis. https://t.co/mgmuonblEf

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 19, 2024

Allegations of Profit Over Patient Safety

One of the most serious allegations in the lawsuit is that CVS prioritized corporate profits over patient safety. The DOJ claims that CVS implemented performance metrics, incentive compensation, and inadequate staffing policies that encouraged pharmacists to fill prescriptions quickly without proper validation. This approach allegedly led to the dispensing of controlled substances without legitimate medical purposes, contributing to the wider opioid crisis.

The lawsuit further claims that CVS ignored evidence from its own pharmacists and internal data that pointed to unlawful prescriptions. This disregard for warning signs allegedly contributed to the opioid crisis and related deaths across the country. The DOJ’s action highlights the critical role that pharmacies play as gatekeepers in preventing the misuse of dangerous prescription drugs.

Potential Consequences and CVS’s Response

If found liable, CVS could face substantial civil penalties and damages for each unlawful prescription filled and each unauthorized reimbursement claim submitted to federal healthcare programs. The scale of CVS’s operations, with over 9,000 locations across the United States, suggests that these penalties could be significant.

“We will defend ourselves vigorously against this misguided federal lawsuit, which follows on the heels of years of litigation over these issues by state and local governments — claims that already have been largely resolved by a global agreement with the participating state Attorneys General,” Amy Thibault, director of external communications for CVS, stated in response to the legal action.

Broader Context of Opioid Crisis Accountability

This lawsuit against CVS is part of a larger effort to hold companies accountable for their alleged contributions to the U.S. opioid crisis. In recent years, opioid-related deaths have soared to over 80,000 annually, highlighting the urgent need for action. The pharmaceutical industry, including drugmakers, wholesalers, and pharmacies, has already settled approximately $50 billion with governments to address the crisis.