Walgreens agreed to pay up to $ 350 million to settle complaints by the United States Ministry that he illegally fulfilled millions of opioid orders and other controlled substances.
The country’s largest pharmacy channel must pay $ 300 million to the government, plus an additional $ 50 million if the company is sold, transferred or merged before 2032, under the terms of the regulation reached on Friday.
The Ministry of Justice filed a complaint against Walgreens Boots Alliance, collectively known as Walgreens, in January. They allegedly alleged that the company had distributed millions of illegal prescriptions and then requested the reimbursement of said substances through Medicare and other federal health care programs, a violation of the law on false complaints.
The complaint also alleged that Walgreens “systematically put pressure on his pharmacists to fill the prescriptions, including the prescriptions of controlled substances, without taking the time necessary to confirm their validity”. This practice would have continued for more than a decade, between August 2012 and March 2023.
“These practices have enabled millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to flow from Walgreens’ stores,” added the press release.
The prescriptions included substances such as opioids and “trinity”, referring to the often abused combination of opioid, benzodiazepine and muscle relaxants.
“This trial seeks to hold Walgreens responsible for the many years that she did not comply with her obligations during the exemption from dangerous opioids and other drugs,” said former principal prosecutor General Brian Mnton, head of the civil division of the Ministry of Justice, in a statement.
A spokesperson for Walgreens, Fraser ENGEMAN, said in a statement to the Guardian that the company “is” strongly (in disagreement) with the legal theory of the government and to admit any responsibility “.
After promoting the newsletter
“This resolution allows us to close all the disputes related to opioids with federal, state and local governments and provides favorable terms from the point of view of cash flows while we focus on our recovery strategy,” said Enerman.
