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The US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a complaint in federal court alleging that CVS Pharmacy filled illegal prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and False Claims Act (FCA).
The federal complaint targets the nation’s largest pharmaceutical company with more than 9,000 stores across the country, alleging that it “knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that did not have a valid medical prescription, were not approved, and/or were not routinely dispensed.”
The DOJ alleges that the pharmaceutical giant continued its illegal practices since Oct. 17, 2013, until now.
The Justice Department said CVS stockpiled too many and dangerous opioids, initial loading of opioids It is an illegal “trinity medicine”.
CVS PULLS INCREDIBLE IMAGES FROM WEBSITE AMID MANHUNT OF UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO KILLER
The lawsuit alleges that CVS Health filled illegal prescriptions. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/Getty)
“Trinity doctors” are combination drugs that include opioids, benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants.
The complaint also alleges that CVS was flooded with prescriptions written by prescribers who were known to engage in “run-of-the-mill practices,” where prescribers dispensed large amounts of medication without any medical purpose.
“According to the complaint, CVS ignored substantial evidence from multiple sources, including its pharmacists and internal sources, indicating that its stores were dispensing illegal prescriptions,” the DOJ said.
Pills of the opioid hydrocodone at a pharmacy in Portsmouth, Ohio, June 21, 2017. (Reuters/Bryan Woolston/File Photo/Reuters)
The Department of Justice accuses CVS of violating the law because of performance metrics, compensation incentives and employee policies.
“CVS places very low staffing standards on healthcare professionals to meet their needs and meet their needs,” the complaint said.
It also withheld important information from medical professionals that could have prevented the flow of illegal drugs, the DOJ said.
The DOJ also alleged that CVS, through its wrongdoing, helped fuel the opioid crisis in the US.
“This lawsuit alleges that CVS failed to perform its critical duty as a watchdog for dangerous opioids and, instead, facilitated the illegal distribution of these drugs, including by prescription pill makers,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha.
“Organizations like CVS have taken advantage of patient safety and overburdened their pharmacy staff to meet their responsibilities to ensure compliance, we will use every tool at our disposal to hold them accountable,” he said. he said.
The DOJ said CVS could face civil penalties for any illegal drugs that violate the CSA, penalties for any drugs that are reimbursed by federal health care plans and injunctive relief to prevent CVS from violating the CSA again.
A CVS Pharmacy (Jeffrey Greenberg/Educational Images/Universal Pictures Group via Getty Images/Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson CVS Pharmacy said CVS officials “strongly disagree” with the allegations and the “misinformation” provided by the DOJ.
| Ticker | Security | Finally | Change it | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVS | CVS HEALTH CORP. | 59.08 | -0.77 |
-1.29% |
“We have cooperated with the DOJ’s investigation for more than four years, and strongly disagree with the allegations and misrepresentations contained in the complaint,” the company said. “We will vigorously defend ourselves against these wrongful-death lawsuits, which follow years of litigation involving federal and state governments — claims that were previously resolved by a global settlement with the participating federal attorneys general.
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“The federal lawsuit seeks to compel changes in pharmacy practice. Many of the legal doctrines outlined in the complaint are not found in any statute or regulation and relate to topics that the federal government has refused to provide guidance on,” CVS said. “Each of the drugs in question was a FDA approved opioid medications prescribed by a physician who has only been licensed, authorized and empowered to prescribe prescription drugs.”
A Food And Drug Administration sign outside its headquarters on July 20, 2020, in White Oak, Md. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images/Getty Images)
A spokesperson for CVS Pharmacy pointed to its history as an industry leader in developing solutions to the opioid crisis.
“For example, 12 years ago, CVS Pharmacy pioneered a first-of-its-kind program to stop prescription drugs being prescribed by doctors who may be concerned. The government continues to issue licenses,” CVS said.
“This program is not required by any law or regulation, and CVS Health has repeatedly defended lawsuits from those who say we go too far in restricting opioids.
“The federal lawsuit exacerbates the problem for pharmacists, who are simultaneously accused of prescribing too many and too few opioids.”
