State Settles With CVS, Walgreens

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has finalized tentative agreements with CVS and Walgreens that will bring $219 million to Indiana to settle allegations against the two pharmacies that they contributed to the opioid crisis through their conduct in the distribution and dispensing of prescription drugs. When a recent tentative settlement with Walmart is added, Indiana’s total tentative recovery from the three pharmacies exceeds $278 million.

Indiana is tentatively set to receive $105 million from CVS, $114 million from Walgreens and $59.4 million from Walmart.

“The opioid crisis has inflicted unspeakable pain on so many Hoosier families,” Rokita said. “Far too often, pharmacies have contributed to this devastation through their own reckless business practices, and we’re going to keep holding them accountable.”

The tentative agreements with Indiana are part of a tentative national multistate settlement with the two companies. Last month, Rokita announced that Indiana expects to receive $59.4 million as part of a tentative multistate settlement with Walmart to resolve allegations that it, too, contributed to the opioid addiction crisis by failing to appropriately oversee the distribution and dispensing of opioids at its stores.

In addition to the financial settlement, CVS and Walgreens — along with Walmart earlier — have agreed to court-ordered injunctive relief that requires the pharmacies to monitor, report and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions. This court-ordered injunctive relief will help ensure a crisis like this does not happen again.

Settlement funds are intended to be used to remediate the opioid crisis by supporting such priorities as prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services.

The payments are structured to ensure critical support in early years as well as sustained resources over time. Most of Walmart’s amount will be paid during the first year; CVS’s payments will be spread over 10 years; Walgreens’ payments will be spread over 15 years. If there is sufficient sign-on, payments will begin during the second half of 2023.