Koko News | Global | 6 days ago

Walgreens Agrees to $350M Settlement Over Opioid Prescription Allegations

Walgreenshasagreedtopayupto$350 millioninasettlementwiththe U.S. DepartmentofJustice. Thesettlementisrelatedtoaccusationsthatthepharmacyillegallyfilledmillionsofprescriptionsforopioidsandothercontrolledsubstancesoverthepastdecade.

沃爾格林已同意向美國司法部支付高達 3.5 億美元的和解金。這項和解與該藥房過去十年來非法配發數百萬張鴉片類藥物和其他管制藥物處方的指控有關。

Thenationwidedrugstorechainmustpaythegovernmentaminimumof$300 million. Anadditional$50 million willbeowedifWalgreensissold, merged, ortransferredbefore2032.

這家全國連鎖藥局必須向政府繳納至少 3 億美元。如果 Walgreens 在 2032 年之前出售、合併或轉讓，則還需支付額外的 5,000 萬美元。

Thegovernment'scomplaint, filedinJanuary, allegesthatWalgreensknowinglyfilledmillionsofillegalprescriptionsbetweenAugust 2012andMarch 2023. Thisincludesprescriptionsforexcessiveopioidsandthosefilledsignificantlyearly.

政府於 1 月提起的訴訟稱，沃爾格林在 2012 年 8 月至 2023 年 3 月期間故意開立了數百萬張非法處方，其中包括過量阿片類藥物處方和提前開立的處方。

WalgreensspokespersonFraserEngermanstatedthatthecompanystronglydisagreeswiththegovernment'slegaltheoryandadmitsnoliability. Thesettlementhelpscloseallopioid-relatedlitigationwithfederal, state, andlocalgovernments.

沃爾格林發言人弗雷澤恩格曼表示，公司強烈反對政府的法律理論，不承認任何責任。和解協議有助於結束與聯邦、州和地方政府的所有鴉片類藥物相關的訴訟。

Amiddecliningstorevisitsandmarketshare, Walgreensannouncedtheclosureof 1,200 storesnationwidelastOctober. RiteAid, facinglossesandopioidlawsuitsettlements, filedforbankruptcyattheendoflastyear.

由於門市客流量和市場份額下降，沃爾格林去年 10 月宣布關閉全國 1,200 家門市。由於面臨虧損和鴉片類藥物訴訟和解，Rite Aid 於去年底申請破產。

The U.S. DepartmentofJusticealsofiledalawsuitagainstCVSinDecember. ThecomplaintallegesthatWalgreenspharmacistsfilledquestionableprescriptionsdespiteclearredflags, andthecompanypressuredthemtofillquickly.

美國司法部也於12月對CVS提起訴訟。投訴稱，儘管有明顯的危險信號，沃爾格林的藥劑師仍開出了可疑的處方，該公司還向他們施壓，要求他們盡快配藥。

ThegovernmentclaimsWalgreensignoredsignificantevidencethatitsstoreswerefillingunlawfulprescriptions. Theyalsoallegethecompanysoughtpaymentforinvalidprescriptionsthroughfederalhealthcareprograms.

政府聲稱沃爾格林忽視了其門市配發非法處方的重要證據。他們還指控該公司透過聯邦醫療保健計劃尋求無效處方的賠償。

Toimprovecompliance, WalgreenshasenteredintoanagreementwiththeDEA, enhancingpoliciesarounddispensingcontrolledsubstances, confirmingprescriptionvalidity, andblockingillegitimateprescribers.

為了提高合規性，沃爾格林已與美國緝毒局達成協議，加強管制藥品配發、處方有效性確認和阻止非法開藥的政策。

WiththeDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices, Walgreenswillestablishacomplianceprogramincludingtraining, boardoversight, andreportingoncontrolledsubstancedispensing. Formeremployeewhistleblowersbroughtfourcasesthatweresettled.

沃爾格林將與美國衛生與公眾服務部合作，建立合規計劃，包括培訓、董事會監督和管制物質配發報告。前僱員舉報人提起了四起案件，均已解決。

CVSandWalgreenspreviouslyagreedtopayover$10 billioninamulti-statesettlementrelatedtotheopioidcrisis. Overall, drugmakers, wholesalers, andpharmacieshaveagreedtomorethan$50 billioninsettlementstocombatthecrisis.

CVS 和 Walgreens 先前同意支付超過 100 億美元的多州和解金，以解決鴉片類藥物危機。總體而言，製藥商、批發商和藥局已同意支付超過 500 億美元的和解金來應對這場危機。

Walgreens has agreed to pay up to $350 million in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The settlement is related to accusations that the pharmacy illegally filled millions of prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances over the past decade.

The nationwide drugstore chain must pay the government a minimum of $300 million. An additional $50 million will be owed if Walgreens is sold, merged, or transferred before 2032.

The government's complaint, filed in January, alleges that Walgreens knowingly filled millions of illegal prescriptions between August 2012 and March 2023. This includes prescriptions for excessive opioids and those filled significantly early.

Walgreens spokesperson Fraser Engerman stated that the company strongly disagrees with the government's legal theory and admits no liability. The settlement helps close all opioid-related litigation with federal, state, and local governments.

Amid declining store visits and market share, Walgreens announced the closure of 1,200 stores nationwide last October. Rite Aid, facing losses and opioid lawsuit settlements, filed for bankruptcy at the end of last year.

The U.S. Department of Justice also filed a lawsuit against CVS in December. The complaint alleges that Walgreens pharmacists filled questionable prescriptions despite clear red flags, and the company pressured them to fill quickly.

The government claims Walgreens ignored significant evidence that its stores were filling unlawful prescriptions. They also allege the company sought payment for invalid prescriptions through federal healthcare programs.

To improve compliance, Walgreens has entered into an agreement with the DEA, enhancing policies around dispensing controlled substances, confirming prescription validity, and blocking illegitimate prescribers.

With the Department of Health and Human Services, Walgreens will establish a compliance program including training, board oversight, and reporting on controlled substance dispensing. Former employee whistleblowers brought four cases that were settled.

CVS and Walgreens previously agreed to pay over $10 billion in a multi-state settlement related to the opioid crisis. Overall, drugmakers, wholesalers, and pharmacies have agreed to more than $50 billion in settlements to combat the crisis.