Walgreens to pay as much as $350M for filling unlawful opioid prescriptions, Justice Division says

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Walgreens has agreed to pay as much as $350 million as a part of a settlement with the U.S. Justice Division to resolve claims that the corporate illegally crammed hundreds of thousands of invalid prescriptions for opioids and different managed substances and requested for fee for a lot of of these invalid prescriptions by Medicare and different federal healthcare packages.

The DOJ mentioned a $300 million settlement is predicated on Walgreens’ skill to pay and a further $50 million can be owed if the corporate is offered, merged or transferred earlier than fiscal yr 2032.

“Pharmacies have a legal responsibility to prescribe controlled substances in a safe and professional manner, not dispense dangerous drugs just for profit,” Legal professional Normal Pamela Bondi mentioned in a press release. “This Department of Justice is committed to ending the opioid crisis and holding bad actors accountable for their failure to protect patients from addiction.”

WALGREENS SUED BY DOJ, ALLEGING IT KNOWINGLY FILLED ILLEGAL PRESCRIPTIONS INCLUDING ‘DANGEROUS’ OPIOIDS

Walgreens has agreed to pay as much as $350 million to resolve claims that the corporate illegally crammed hundreds of thousands of invalid prescriptions for opioids. (Joe Raedle/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)

The corporate was accused of filling hundreds of thousands of invalid prescriptions between August 2012 and March 2023 in violation of the Managed Substances Act, in keeping with the federal government’s grievance. These included prescriptions for extreme numbers of opioids and opioid prescriptions crammed considerably early.

Walgreens pharmacists allegedly crammed these prescriptions regardless of indicators suggesting a excessive probability that the prescriptions had been invalid as a result of they lacked a reputable medical function or weren’t issued within the typical course {of professional} observe, the DOJ mentioned.

WALGREENS TO GO PRIVATE IN $10B DEAL

The DOJ mentioned a $300 million settlement is predicated on Walgreens’ skill to pay and a further $50 million can be owed if the corporate is offered, merged or transferred earlier than fiscal yr 2032. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)

The grievance additionally claims that Walgreens pressured its pharmacists to fill prescriptions rapidly and with out taking time to substantiate that every prescription was authorized. Walgreens’ compliance officers additionally allegedly ignored proof that its shops had been dishing out unlawful prescriptions and even deliberately disadvantaged its personal pharmacists of mandatory info, together with by refusing to share inside knowledge about prescribers with pharmacists and stopping pharmacists from warning each other about sure prescribers.

The federal authorities mentioned the lawsuit and ensuing settlement had been a part of efforts to handle the nationwide opioid epidemic that has led to tens of 1000’s of deaths annually.

Walgreens was accused of filling hundreds of thousands of invalid prescriptions between August 2012 and March 2023 in violation of the Managed Substances Act. (iStock / iStock)

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“This settlement resolves allegations that, for years, Walgreens failed to meet its obligations when dispensing dangerous opioids and other drugs,” Deputy Assistant Legal professional Normal Michael Granston of the Justice Division’s Civil Division mentioned. “We will continue to hold accountable those entities and individuals whose actions contributed to the opioid crisis, whether through illegal prescribing, marketing, dispensing or distributing activities.”