On Wednesday, the Justice Department revealed a civil complaint against CVS Pharmacy Inc. and its subsidiaries, accusing them of filling unlawful prescriptions that breached the federal Controlled Substances Act. The complaint alleges that CVS not only filled these problematic prescriptions but also sought reimbursements from federal health care programs, thus violating the False Claims Act.
As the largest pharmacy chain in the U.S., CVS has strongly rejected the allegations, asserting that it has fully cooperated with the DOJ’s investigation for over four years. The prescriptions in question reportedly involved dangerous quantities of opioids, early refills, and a combination of medications known as trinity prescriptions, which include opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants. CVS is specifically accused of filling prescriptions from doctors linked to pill mill practices, which are often associated with over-prescribing and misuse of controlled substances.
U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha emphasized that CVS did not fulfill its role as a gatekeeper for dangerous prescription opioids, effectively enabling their widespread distribution. This lawsuit comes in the wake of McKinsey & Company’s recent settlement, which required the consulting firm to pay $650 million for its role in promoting OxyContin sales alongside Purdue Pharma. The actions taken against CVS are part of a broader effort to hold companies accountable for their contributions to the ongoing addiction crisis in the United States.
