CVS Pharmacy agrees to pay $315 million to settle U.S. Justice Department opioid prescription lawsuit

CVS Pharmacy Inc. and its subsidiaries have agreed to pay $315 million to resolve a Justice Department lawsuit filed in 2024. The lawsuit accused the company of unlawfully dispensing medically unnecessary opioid prescriptions, contributing to the U.S. opioid crisis. The settlement, announced on Tuesday, requires CVS to implement additional safeguards to prevent future violations. CVS disagrees with the claims and admits no wrongdoing. This settlement is part of broader federal efforts to hold pharmacies accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic, which has caused over 100,000 deaths in some years.