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CVS to pay $315 million settlement with DOJ over opioid prescriptions

Washingtonexaminer • October 13, 2026

The Justice Department reached a $315 million settlement with CVS Pharmacy on Tuesday over allegations that the chain improperly filled prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances, then sought reimbursement for many of those prescriptions from federal healthcare programs.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by the government in 2024 on behalf of former CVS employee Hillary Estright. The lawsuit alleged CVS violated the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act by dispensing prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose.

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CVS Settles $315M Over Illegal Opioid Prescriptions CVS Pharmacy Inc. has agreed to a $315 million settlement with the Justice Department to resolve allegations of illegally filling opioid prescriptions and submitting false claims to Medicare. The allegations include dispensing prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose and involved dangerous combinations of drugs. The settlement requires CVS to implement additional safeguards to ensure compliance with the Controlled Substances Act. CVS has denied wrongdoing but aims to move forward from the litigation. The case was initiated by a whistleblower lawsuit filed in 2024 by former employee Hillary Estright. The settlement includes a memorandum of agreement with the DEA to establish a hotline for reporting illegal dispensing and to monitor prescribing patterns. The Justice Department emphasized the importance of compliance systems in preventing the improper dispensing of controlled substances. 6 sources 28

CVS to pay $315 million settlement with DOJ over opioid prescriptions

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