By Chelsey Dulaney
CVS Health Corp. disclosed Wednesday that it will pay $22
million to settle a years-old fight with the federal government
over alleged misuse of addictive prescription painkillers in
Florida.
The settlement resolves all civil matters between CVS and the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and state of Florida, the
company said in a regulatory filing. CVS said the payment was
accrued for in previous fiscal periods.
In 2012, the federal government alleged that CVS and Cardinal
Health Inc. were aware of high-volume orders of prescription
painkiller oxycodone shipped to two pharmacies in Florida.
In court papers at the time, the DEA charged that CVS and its
wholesale supplier, Cardinal, didn't thoroughly investigate the
sharply higher sales of the powerful drug.
The closely watched case probed how much responsibility
companies bear for a growing drug-abuse problem.
The DEA revoked the controlled-substance registrations of the
two Florida CVS pharmacies at the center of the fight.
In a statement, CVS said it has since enhanced its policies for
filling controlled-substance prescriptions.
"CVS Health...is dedicated to reducing prescription drug abuse
and diversion while ensuring access to appropriate, effective pain
medication for patients with a legitimate need," the company
said.
Write to Chelsey Dulaney at Chelsey.Dulaney@wsj.com
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