Rhode Island-based pharmacy chain CVS Pharmacy Inc. and its related corporate entities, including Longs Drugs, will pay $315 million to resolve allegations that, from Oct. 17, 2013, through Dec. 2, 2025, CVS illegally filled prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances.
According to United States Attorney Ken Sorenson, CVS violated the Controlled Substances Act and sought payment for many of those invalid prescriptions from Medicare and other federal healthcare programs in violation of the False Claims Act.
“Not only does this settlement hold bad actors accountable for their fraudulent activities, but Americans are safer because of it,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “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.”
The settlement resolves allegations in the government’s complaint, which the United States filed on Dec. 13, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, that CVS knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, were not valid, and/or were not issued in the usual course of professional practice.
“Today’s settlement requires CVS to implement additional safeguards to ensure that prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances are dispensed only when medically appropriate,”...
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