In a significant development in the ongoing battle against opioid abuse, Walgreens has agreed to pay up to $350 million to settle allegations of illegally filling controlled substance prescriptions and submitting false claims to the government. According to a release by the Office of Public Affairs, the pharmacy chain was accused of dispensing millions of unlawful prescriptions, including those for excessive quantities of opioids and for combinations of drugs known to be particularly dangerous.
The settlement, which is said to be contingent on Walgreens' ability to pay, includes a $300 million payment to the United States, with an additional $50 million to be added if the company undergoes a sale, merger, or transfer before fiscal year 2032. "Pharmacies have a legal responsibility to prescribe controlled substances in a safe and professional manner, not dispense dangerous drugs just for profit," stated Attorney General Pamela Bondi, as per the Office of Public Affairs.
Investigators claimed that from approximately August 2012 through March 1, 2023, Walgreens' pharmacists filled prescriptions despite clear signs that they were potentially invalid. The amended complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, even goes so far as to say the company pressured pharmacists to quickly fill prescriptions without proper validation checks, deliberately keeping pharmacists in the dark about potentially problematic prescribers.
"This settlement resolves allegations that, for years, Walgreens failed to meet its obligations when dispensing dangerous opioids and other drugs," expressed Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Granston of the Justice Department's Civil Division, affirming the pursuit of accountability within the pharmaceutical industry, as noted by the Office of Public Affairs. Details of the overall case and the groups involved in bringing about the settlement show the extensive collaborative effort across multiple jurisdictions and federal agencies. The considerable assistance came from the DEA, HHS-OIG, and U.S. Attorneys' Offices in various districts, demonstrating a united front in the fight against prescription drug abuse and fraud.
