CVS Pharmacy Inc. is being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly writing illegal prescriptions and seeking reimbursement for illegal drugs from federal health care programs.
CVS, the largest pharmacy chain in the U.S. with 9,000 pharmacies nationwide, “knowingly dispenses prescriptions for controlled substances that lack a legitimate medical purpose, are not valid, and/or are not issued in the ordinary course of professional business. He is accused of having filled out the following. ,” according to someone Department of Justice News Release.
An indictment unsealed Wednesday in the District of Rhode Island states that among the numerous illegal prescriptions CVS allegedly filled were “dangerous and excessive amounts of opioids, premature opioid fillings, and ‘Trinity. “Prescription” was included. Trinity Prescription is a “dangerous and abused” drug cocktail consisting of opioids, benzodiazepines (antidepressants) and muscle relaxants.
In a statement emailed to USA TODAY, a CVS spokesperson said: “We have cooperated with the Department of Justice’s investigation for over four years and strongly disagree with the allegations and misrepresentations contained in this complaint. I won’t.”
“We intend to vigorously defend ourselves against this misguided federal lawsuit, which follows years of litigation by state and local governments over these issues. Resolved by global agreement with participating state attorneys general” the statement continued.
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CVS allegedly ignored pill mills, evidence from its own pharmacists
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, CVS also allegedly wrote large numbers of prescriptions for controlled substances that were written by prescribers it knew were participating in a “pill mill operation.”
Pill mills are illegal institutional pharmacies that prescribe large quantities of controlled substances to patients who do not need them for medical purposes. National Library of Medicine Said.
According to the complaint, even though CVS had “substantial evidence from multiple sources, including its own pharmacists and internal data,” the pharmacy failed to confirm that its stores were dispensing illegal prescriptions. I was ignoring it.
“When lives are destroyed or lost due to opioid abuse, it doesn’t matter whether the supplier is a street dealer, a pill mill, or a large national corporation,” said Jessica D. Abar, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. he said. release. “Our laws regarding the dispensing of opioids and other controlled substances are clear and apply to everyone. We will protect against any company, large or small, that puts profits above public safety. We will take all necessary legal action to stop it.”
Department of Justice: ‘CVS’ actions helped fuel the opioid crisis’
CVS allegedly ignored evidence and violated both the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the False Claims Act (FCA), allowing the pharmacy to meet company-mandated performance metrics, receive incentive compensation, and to We adhered to a staffing policy that prioritizes corporate profits over the safety of employees. the Department of Justice said.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, CVS’ staffing levels are too low for pharmacists to meet performance standards and comply with legal responsibilities. The pharmacy also “deprived pharmacists of important information,” including failing to alert pharmacists about certain prescribers.
“The complaint alleges that CVS’ actions fueled the opioid crisis, and in particularly tragic cases, patients died of opioid overdoses shortly after filling illegal prescriptions at CVS,” the Justice Department said in a release. It is stated in.
Whistleblower brings allegations against CVS to light
The Department of Justice called former CVS employee Hilary Estreit as a whistleblower after she filed a lawsuit on October 17, 2019, alleging wrongdoing by the pharmacy. According to the Department of Justice, she filed a claim under the FCA’s alimony provisions. The FCA authorizes private parties to litigate on behalf of the United States for false claims and assist in any recoveries.
The FCA also allows the United States to intervene and take over actions brought under the Qui Tam Clause, which is what it did in this case.
CVS says ‘illegal’ prescription was for FDA-approved opioid drug
In a CVS statement, the pharmacy said the government’s lawsuit aims to “impose changing standards on pharmacy practice.”
“Many of the litigation theories stated in the complaint are not found in any statute or regulation and relate to topics for which the government has refused to provide guidance,” the statement said. .
According to the statement, CVS also said that the prescriptions that the Justice Department has described as “unlawful” are FDA-approved opioid drugs prescribed by practitioners who “have been authorized, authorized, and authorized by the government itself to write prescriptions for controlled substances.” He also said that.
Twelve years ago, CVS Health created a “first-of-its-kind program to block prescriptions for controlled substances written by physicians of potential concern,” according to a statement. To date, the pharmacy has banned more than 1,250 medical practitioners, including 600 prescribers who remain licensed by the government, the statement said.
“This program is not required by any law or regulation, and CVS Health has repeatedly defended lawsuits from those who claim it goes too far in deterring opioid prescribers,” CVS said. “The government’s lawsuit compounds a serious dilemma for pharmacists, who are accused of dispensing too many opioids and dispensing too few.”
