Walgreens says it ’strongly disagrees with the government’s legal theory and admits no liability.’
Walgreens has agreed to pay up to $350 million to settle allegations that it knowingly filled millions of unlawful opioid and other controlled-substance prescriptions and submitted false claims to federal health programs, the Justice Department announced April 21.
The settlement resolves claims that Walgreens violated both the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the False Claims Act (FCA) from 2012 through 2023.
According to the government, the national pharmacy chain repeatedly dispensed prescriptions without verifying their legitimacy, including prescriptions for opioids in excessive quantities, those filled prematurely, and so-called “trinity” drug combinations commonly associated with abuse.
“Pharmacies have a legal responsibility to prescribe controlled substances in a safe and professional manner, not dispense dangerous drugs just for profit,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice is committed to ending the opioid crisis and holding bad actors accountable for their failure to protect patients from addiction.”
DOJ said the amount is based on Walgreens’s ability to pay. Under the agreement, Walgreens will pay $300 million—$150 million each to resolve civil claims under the CSA and FCA—with an additional $50 million if the company is sold, merged, or transferred prior to fiscal year 2032.
According to the amended government complaint, Walgreens pharmacists allegedly filled invalid prescriptions even when presented with clear warning signs. In some cases, the prescriptions came from providers known to write unlawful scripts, and Walgreens allegedly pressured pharmacists to prioritize speed over safety while depriving them of tools to verify legitimacy, such as prescriber data and internal alerts.
In total, the United States alleged that Walgreens violated the CSA from October 2013 to March 2023 and the FCA from August 2012 through March 2023.
Walgreens, in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, said it “strongly disagrees with the government’s legal theory and admits no liability.”
“Our pharmacists are dedicated healthcare professionals who care deeply about patient safety and continue to play a critical role in providing education and resources to help combat opioid misuse and abuse across our country,” said Fraser Engerman, senior director of media relations and issues management at Walgreens.
“This resolution allows us to close all opioid-related litigation with federal, state, and local governments and provides us with favorable terms from a cashflow perspective while we focus on our turnaround strategy that will benefit our team members, patients, customers, and shareholders,” Engerman said.
By Chase Smith
