The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against CVS Health, accusing the company of unlawfully filling prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose. The civil complaint states that CVS violated the Controlled Substances Act since October 2013 by filling dangerous and excessive quantities of opioids, early fills, and ‘trinity’ prescriptions. The lawsuit alleges that CVS ignored evidence of unlawful prescriptions and prioritized profits over patient safety through corporate policies. U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha claims that CVS’s actions contributed to the prescription opioid crisis and led to patient deaths. CVS is also accused of seeking reimbursement from federal health care programs for unlawfully filled prescriptions, potentially facing civil penalties and treble damages. In response, CVS has strongly disagreed with the allegations, stating that they have been cooperating with the DOJ’s investigation and have already resolved similar issues with state and local governments. The company claims that the lawsuit imposes a shifting standard for pharmacy practice and argues that the government has not provided proper guidance on the matter.
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