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Walmart to pay $50 million to settle federal opioid prescription lawsuit
Walmart has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a federal lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The litigation, which began in 2020, alleged that Walmart pharmacies illegally filled thousands of invalid prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances dating back to 2013.
According to government allegations, Walmart's compliance team was aware that certain doctors were operating 'pill mills' but failed to take adequate action. The complaint noted that while pharmacists submitted thousands of 'refusal-to-fill' forms to flag suspicious activity, corporate leadership allegedly prioritized sales and patient awareness over investigating these reports. Red flags identified included high-dosage opioid combinations and frequent requests for early refills.
As part of the settlement, Walmart has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the DEA. This includes requirements to establish a hotline for reporting suspected illegal dispensing, proactively monitoring pharmacy patterns, and implementing a process to evaluate prescribers suspected of illegal activity. This agreement follows a previous $3.1 billion settlement in 2022 involving state and local opioid lawsuits.
Entities
Drug Enforcement Administration · Stanley Woodard · U.S. Department of Justice · Walmart
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Walmart's compliance team allegedly knew certain prescribers were operating as 'pill mills' but failed to act. quepasamedia.com · www.wbrz.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In 2022, Walmart reached a separate $3.1 billion settlement regarding opioid lawsuits filed by states and local governments. talkbusiness.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] Walmart agreed to pay $50 million to settle federal allegations regarding invalid opioid prescriptions. quepasamedia.com · talkbusiness.net · www.wbrz.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The allegations involve pharmacies filling prescriptions despite red flags like dangerous drug combinations or early refills. quepasamedia.com · talkbusiness.net · www.wbrz.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The settlement requires Walmart to proactively monitor pharmacy dispensing patterns. talkbusiness.net
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Walmart must establish a hotline for employees and patients to report suspected illegal dispensing of controlled substances. talkbusiness.net