Photo: Walgreens
Walgreens, one of the leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, has been ordered to pay up to $350 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice. The DOJ accused the retailer of knowingly filling millions of illegal prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances between 2012 and 2023.
The Justice Department alleges that pharmacists filled prescriptions despite indications that the prescriptions lacked a legitimate medical purpose or were not issued in the normal course of professional practice.
According to the settlement, Walgreens must pay at least $300 million upfront and will owe $50 million if the company is merged, transferred, or sold before 2032.
Senior Director of External Relations, Fraser Engerman, said in a statement, "We strongly disagree with the government's legal theory and admit no liability."
Walgreens has agreed to several initiatives to improve its compliance around dispensing controlled substances, including working with the Drug Enforcement Administration to maintain policies and procedures regarding prescriptions. They will also work with the Department of Health and Human Services to establish and maintain a program that includes board oversight, training and periodic reporting to the agency.
Pharmacies and drugmakers have agreed to pay more than $50 billion in settlements to the government in the past eight years.
Walgreens has over 8,000 pharmacies across the U.S.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.