The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit accusing pharmacy chain CVS of fueling the opioid epidemic by filling illegal prescriptions and billing federal health insurance programs. The complaint, unsealed on Wednesday in a Rhode Island federal court, outlines allegations spanning from October 2013 to the present.
Allegations of Negligence and Profit-Driven Practices
The lawsuit claims CVS violated the Controlled Substances Act by filling dangerous opioid prescriptions in excessive quantities and ignoring red flags. Prosecutors argue that CVS regularly filled prescriptions from doctors operating “pill mills”—facilities dispensing large amounts of opioids without valid medical justification.
According to the DOJ, CVS’s company-mandated performance metrics prioritized speed and profit over safety. This pressure allegedly led pharmacists to overlook warning signs, resulting in fatal overdoses for some patients shortly after receiving illegal prescriptions.
The complaint highlights instances where CVS pharmacists ignored warnings from employees. One whistleblower described the company’s operations as “an assembly-line style of medication preparation,” comparing the rushed environment to fast-food service.
CVS Responds to the Claims
CVS strongly denied the allegations in a statement, asserting, “We have cooperated with the DOJ’s investigation for more than four years, and we strongly disagree with the allegations and false narrative within this complaint.”
Despite denying wrongdoing, CVS previously agreed to a $5 billion settlement in 2022 to resolve thousands of similar claims brought by state, local, and tribal governments. That settlement formed part of a larger $46 billion resolution involving pharmacies, drugmakers, and distributors.
Patterns of Misconduct Highlighted
The DOJ’s complaint details egregious examples of CVS’s alleged negligence. In one case, CVS continued filling prescriptions for an Alabama doctor flagged internally in 2015 and under investigation by authorities. That doctor was arrested in 2016.
Similarly, the company filled thousands of prescriptions for a Pennsylvania doctor, despite internal and external warnings labeling him a “pill pusher” and claiming he wrote prescriptions without examining patients.
The lawsuit also identifies 10 specific patients who allegedly died after filling illegal prescriptions at CVS locations.
The Ongoing Opioid Crisis
The opioid epidemic has claimed over 800,000 lives in the United States since 1999, according to the CDC. While preliminary data suggests overdose deaths began to decline in 2023, the crisis continues to devastate communities nationwide.
The DOJ’s lawsuit signals a renewed effort to hold corporations accountable for their role in the epidemic. By exposing alleged profit-driven practices that endangered lives, the case highlights the broader need for stricter oversight and accountability in the pharmaceutical industry.
