CVS Pays $315 Million Over Invalid Opioid Prescriptions Billed to Federal Programs

The government alleged CVS filled opioid prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose and billed federal health programs for them. $315M settles the False Claims Act allegations; VA’s inspector general was among the investigators.

The government’s complaint alleged CVS knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, were not valid, and were not issued in the usual course of professional practice — and then sought payment for those invalid prescriptions from federal healthcare programs in violation of the False Claims Act.

The $315 million payment resolves those allegations across the federal programs billed; the source does not break out a VA-specific share, and this page does not invent one. VA OIG investigated alongside several other federal and state law-enforcement agencies, and carries the case in its own Criminal Investigative Updates — reflecting the VA’s exposure as one of the programs billed.

A settlement of allegations, stated as such; not an admission or a criminal conviction.

"knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose"
— VA Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigative Updates

Source: VA Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigative Updates. Case file in the VA Fraud case files — part of the VA Fraud record. Cases are published as the courts decided them; amounts are stated as the Justice Department states them (billed, stolen, or ordered in restitution, as labeled).