The Department of Justice is suing the nation’s biggest pharmacy chain. In a complaint unsealed Wednesday, Dec. 18, the DOJ said CVS knowingly filled illegal prescriptions and tried to get reimbursement from federal health care programs for those illicit prescriptions since 2013.
The Justice Department alleged CVS 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, benzodiazepine and a muscle relaxant – a potentially deadly combination.
CVS allegedly filled prescriptions written by prescribers it knew were running “pill mills.” This is when prescribers issue large quantities of drugs without any medical purpose.
Prosecutors said CVS broke the law because of its performance metrics, compensation incentives and staffing policies.
“CVS set staffing levels far too low for pharmacists to both meet their performance metrics and comply with their legal obligations,” the DOJ said.
The department also accused the pharmacy chain of fueling America’s opioid crisis through malpractice.
CVS denied the allegations. It said the complaint offers a “false narrative” and it has been complying with the DOJ’s investigation for years.
If CVS 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.
