At the end of March 2022, CVS Health announced a $484 million settlement with the State of Florida to resolve long-standing claims related to prescriptions for opioid medications that were filled at CVS Pharmacy locations throughout Florida.
Under the settlement agreement, the $484 million is payable over 18 years and it removes CVS Pharmacy as defendant in Florida’s opioid lawsuit scheduled for trial this month. The trial will proceed against Walgreens, which has claimed its 2012 opioid-related settlement with Florida covers the state’s latest claims and will defend itself against “unjustified attacks” on its pharmacists.
In its statement announcing the settlement, CVS notes that it does not include any admission of wrongdoing and that it is a “result of the unique facts and circumstances of the Florida claims,” and that the “settlement value should not be extrapolated to any other opioid-related litigation in which CVS Health is involved” and that the company will “continue to vigorously defend against other lawsuits relating to opioids.”
“Putting these claims behind us is in the best interest of all parties and helps sharpen our focus on delivering a personalized, connected health care experience for the millions of consumers who rely on us,” said Thomas Moriarty, Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer and General Counsel at CVS Health. “We look forward to continuing our longstanding partnership with the State of Florida in providing programs, services and solutions to reduce the illegitimate use of opioid medications.”
Other Settlements
In addition to the CVS Settlement, Florida reached several other settlements, including a settlement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries of nearly $195 million, a $134 million settlement with Allergan, and $65 million settlement with Endo International. Teva will also provide $84 million worth of generic Narcan nasal spray.
Most of the settlement money will be spent on opioid abatement efforts.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “The opioid epidemic is wreaking havoc on Florida families. Since my first day in office, I have worked tirelessly to hold accountable those companies who helped start this crisis—with today’s announcements we have now secured an additional $870 million to help mitigate the harm caused to Florida’s communities. The monies secured from CVS, Teva, Allergan and Endo will help further our efforts to remediate the harm and suffering of Floridians.”
Trial Against Walgreens Proceeds
As indicated above, the lawsuit will continue to proceed against Walgreens. According to court filings, Florida highlights evidence surrounding Walgreens’ dispensing and distribution of opioids in Florida. According to the filings, “a Walgreens drug distribution center sold 2.2 million tablets to a single Walgreens’ pharmacy in tiny Hudson, a roughly six-month supply for each of its 12,000 residents… In some cases, Walgreens increased orders as much as 600% in the space of just two years, including, for example, supplying a town of 3,000 with 285,800 orders of oxycodone in a one-month period.”