Health · Healthcare & Policy · 1 hr ago
CVS to pay $315 million to settle US opioid prescription claims
CVS agreed to pay $315 million to settle a US Justice Department lawsuit over opioid prescriptions.
Filed in federal court in Rhode Island, the 2024 case accused the pharmacy chain of filling excessive or medically unnecessary prescriptions, including those from so-called pill mills.
CVS denies wrongdoing, and the settlement does not include an admission of liability.
The company also agreed to new safeguards with the DEA to help ensure controlled drugs are dispensed only when medically necessary.
The lawsuit said some prescriptions were billed to Medicaid and other federal health programs.
The settlement adds to efforts to address the US opioid crisis, which has been linked to more than 100,000 deaths in some years, though deaths have fallen sharply in recent years.
Settlement funds are mostly intended to help address the addiction crisis.
CVS Pharmacy Inc. has agreed to pay $315 million to settle US Justice Department claims over opioid prescriptions.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in 2024 that accused CVS of filling prescriptions for excessive amounts of opioids and other drugs.
CVS also agreed to new safeguards with the Drug Enforcement Administration for filling opioids and other controlled drugs.
CVS said it strongly disagrees with the claims and that the settlement admits no wrongdoing.
- Who
- CVS Pharmacy Inc. and the US Justice Department.
- What
- CVS agreed to pay $315 million and adopt new safeguards to settle claims over opioid prescriptions.
- When
- The settlement was reported on October 14, 2026; the lawsuit was filed in 2024.
- Where
- The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Rhode Island.
- Why
- The Justice Department alleged CVS unlawfully filled unnecessary and excessive opioid prescriptions.
US Justice Department
CVS
Allegations
US Justice Department
The department accused CVS of unlawfully filling unnecessary and excessive opioid prescriptions.
CVS
CVS said it strongly disagrees with the claims.
Settlement
US Justice Department
The department described the settlement as part of efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.
CVS
CVS said the settlement admits no wrongdoing and will allow it to put the litigation behind it.
The US Justice Department filed a lawsuit accusing CVS of unlawfully dispensing opioids.
CVS agreed to pay $315 million and adopt new safeguards to settle the claims.
- Settlement amount
- $315 million
- Lawsuit filed
- 2024
- Court location
- Federal court in Rhode Island
- Safeguards
- CVS agreed to safeguards with the Drug Enforcement Administration for opioids and other controlled drugs
What people are saying
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
We strongly disagree with the claims made in this case, and our settlement with the DOJ admits no wrongdoing. We’re pleased to move forward and put this litigation behind us.