DOJ sues Walgreens for allegedly filling illegal opioid prescriptions

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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Walgreens, accusing the drugstore chain of providing “illegal” opioid prescriptions for more than a decade despite clear “red flags” indicating their illegality. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that Walgreens pressured its pharmacists to issue prescriptions without verifying their validity, leading to the illegal flow of millions of opioids into the community. “Walgreens allegedly ignored substantial evidence from multiple sources that its stores dispensed illegal prescriptions,” the Justice Department said in a release. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton emphasized that these actions significantly contributed to the opioid epidemic as millions of pills were illegally dispensed. The government alleges that Walgreens violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by dispensing millions of questionable prescriptions. Seek reimbursement from federal health care programs through the False Claims Act (FCA). Acting U.S. Attorney Maurice Pascual emphasized the importance of enforcing laws to protect communities from opioid abuse. The lawsuit was prompted in part by reports of these alleged illegal activities by a whistleblower who once worked at Walgreens. In response, Walgreens asked the court to protect the company from enforcement of an “arbitrary rule,” which it argued was never formally adopted. The company defended the integrity of its employees, saying, “We will not stand idly by and let the government put our pharmacists in a no-win situation.” The lawsuit follows a similar action against CVS Health last month, alleging that it play a role in promoting pharmacist behavior. Solving the Opioid Crisis by Profiting from Taking Illicit Prescriptions. Like this: Like Loading… Discover more from Baller Alert Subscribe to have the latest posts delivered to your email.

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