CVS Pharmacy has agreed to pay $315 million to resolve federal allegations that its stores filled opioid prescriptions they should have refused, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced on Oct. 13. The settlement covers conduct from Oct. 17, 2013, through Dec. 2, 2025. CVS did not admit wrongdoing, and the government said the claims are allegations only, with no determination of liability.
The case centers on warning signs that pharmacists are expected to catch before a prescription reaches a patient. Prosecutors alleged that CVS pharmacists filled excessive opioid quantities, early refills, and drug combinations known to slow breathing.
