DOJ accuses CVS of filling unlawful prescriptions, fueling opioid crisis

[Karah]

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS SUING THE NATION’S BIGGEST PHARMACY CHAIN.

IN A COMPLAINT UNSEALED WEDNESDAY, THE D-O-J SAYS SINCE 20-13… C-V-S HAS KNOWINGLY FILLED ILLEGAL PRESCRIPTIONS … AND TRIED TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FROM FEDERAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS FOR THE ILLEGAL PRESCRIPTIONS.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS C-V-S FILLED EXCESSIVE AND DANGEROUS QUANTITIES OF OPIOIDS… EARLY FILLS OF OPIOIDS… AND WHAT ARE KNOWN AS “TRINITY PRESCRIPTIONS” ILLEGALLY. 

TRINITY PRESCRIPTIONS ARE A COMBINATION OF DRUGS THAT INCLUDE OPIOIDS, BENZODIAZEPENE, AND A MUSCLE RELAXANT – A POTENTIALLY DEADLY COMBINATION.

THE COMPLAINT ALSO CLAIMS C-V-S FILLED PRESCRIPTIONS WRITTEN BY PRESCRIBERS IT KNEW WERE RUNNING “PILL MILLS” – WHICH IS WHEN PRESCRIBERS ISSUE LARGE QUANTITIES OF DRUGS WITHOUT ANY MEDICAL PURPOSE.

THE D-O-J SAYS C-V-S BROKE THE LAW BECAUSE OF ITS PERFORMANCE METRICS, COMPENSATION INCENTIVES, AND STAFFING POLICIES, SAYING QUOTE “C-V-S SET STAFFING LEVELS FAR TOO LOW FOR PHARMACISTS TO BOTH MEET THEIR PERFORMANCE METRICS *AND* COMPLY WITH THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS” – AND ACCUSES THE PHARMACY CHAIN OF FUELING AMERICA’S OPIOID CRISIS THROUGH MALPRACTICE.

C-V-S DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS… SAYING THE COMPLAINT OFFERS A QUOTE “FALSE NARRATIVE” AND THEY’VE BEEN COMPLYING WITH THE D-O-J’S INVESTIGATION FOR YEARS.

IF C-V-S IS FOUND LIABLE, IT COULD FACE CIVIL PENALTIES FOR EACH UNLAWFUL PRESCRIPTION FILLED AND PAY THREE TIMES THE DAMAGES AS WELL AS OTHER PENALTIES FOR EACH PRESCRIPTION REIMBURSED BY FEDERAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS.

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