What are the allegations against CVS?

Asked by: Eriberto Steuber  |  Last update: June 18, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (69 votes)

The government alleges that CVS caused its pharmacists to routinely fill opioid and other controlled substance prescriptions despite “red flags” indicating that the prescriptions were invalid, medically inappropriate, and/or dangerous.

What is the CVS controversy?

The government alleges that by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances, CVS violated the CSA and, where CVS sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs, also violated the FCA. The complaint alleges that CVS's actions helped to fuel the opioid crisis.

What is going on with CVS?

Tim Wentworth took over as CEO about 15 months ago and has already cut the company's dividend, announced plans to shut down 1,200 stores, and is looking at wide range of options, including selling assets.

What is the lawsuit against CVS and Walgreens?

In both lawsuits, the DOJ claims that Walgreens and CVS knowingly filled “unlawful prescriptions” for opioids and other controlled substances, and then sought reimbursement for them from federal healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

Why are so many pharmacists leaving CVS?

Pharmacists say CVS is understaffing and overworking them

And while a number of harassment cases noted in the report cite customers as the source of verbal or emotional harassment, the majority of them identified the harassers as managers and/or supervisors.

Florida files opioid lawsuit against CVS, Walgreens

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Why is CVS closing all their stores?

The newspaper reported that when it spoke to a CVS spokesperson, they said the effort to pare down has been made “based on [the company's] evaluation of changes in population, consumer buying patterns and future health needs."

What is the best pharmacy to use?

Good Neighbor Pharmacy ranks highest among brick-and-mortar chain drug store pharmacies for an eighth consecutive year, with a score of 775. Good Neighbor received top scores in all study dimensions, including "level of trust with pharmacy." Health Mart (729) ranks second and Rite Aid Pharmacy ranks third (650).

Why did CVS crash?

Hynes said the problem appeared to be that CVS "over-diversified" its Medicare Advantage plan selection and over-extended its benefits. UnitedHealth's stock has also had a pretty bad month.

What is the controversy with Walgreens pharmacy?

The government's complaint alleges that, from approximately August 2012 through the present, Walgreens knowingly filled millions of prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, were not valid, and/or were not issued in the usual course of professional practice.

What drug store did CVS take over?

1990-2004: CVS acquires multiple companies including Peoples Drugs, Revco and Eckerd drug stores.

Is CVS going out of business in 2024?

Your local CVS may be closing its doors for good. The drugstore chain is in the process of shuttering "roughly 300" locations across the country in 2024, a spokesperson confirmed to Good Housekeeping. That includes the dozens of pharmacies in Target stores.

Is CVS in trouble financially?

Over the last few years, CVS has struggled with declining profit margins at its retail pharmacies, as well as rising costs of patient care through its insurance unit Aetna, which generates around a third of the company's revenue. So far, CVS has cut its 2024 earnings forecast for three straight quarters.

What is CVS new name?

To help demonstrate the connection and convenience the company uniquely delivers, CVS Healthspire will be the new branded name for our Health Services segment, which includes CVS Caremark®, Cordavis™, Oak Street Health®, Signify Health® and MinuteClinic®.

What is the risk of a CVS?

Some risks are: Miscarriage: The miscarriage risk with CVS is less than 1 in 100 or 1%. Infection: As with most medical procedures, there's a small risk of infection. Limb deformity: Rarely, CVS testing can cause a baby to be born with a limb deformity (especially when CVS is done before 10 weeks).

Who owns CVS now?

CVS Health Corporation is an American for-profit healthcare company that owns CVS Pharmacy, a retail pharmacy chain; CVS Caremark, a pharmacy benefits manager; and Aetna, a health insurance provider, among many other brands. The company is the world's second largest healthcare company, behind UnitedHealth Group.

Why are CVS and Walgreens in trouble?

The slow simmer of mistakes and misfortunes has come to a boil for the biggest U.S. drugstore chains. They've accumulated too many stores at a time of changing shopper habits. They're saddled with numerous government fines and a particularly ailing relationship with health insurers.

Why Walgreens are closing?

The thinning of Walgreens locations has been in the works. Walgreens said in October 2024 it planned to close about 1,200 underperforming stores across the U.S. as a strategy to offset declining profits resulting from low drug reimbursement rates and sluggish retail sales.

Why are small pharmacies going out of business?

This has been happening all over the country, a New York Times investigation found. P.B.M.s, which employers and government programs hire to oversee prescription drug benefits, have been systematically underpaying small pharmacies, helping to drive hundreds out of business.

What did CVS do wrong?

“This lawsuit alleges that CVS failed to exercise its critical role as gatekeeper of dangerous prescription opioids and, instead, facilitated the illegal proliferation of these highly addictive drugs, including by pill mill prescribers.

Why are all the CVS closing?

“We are at a point where the current pharmacy model is not sustainable,” Wentworth said in June. CVS, the largest US chain, closed 244 stores between 2018 and 2020. In 2021, it announced plans to close an additional 900 stores. Earlier this month, CVS said it planned to cut about 2,900 jobs corporate jobs.

What is going on with Aetna and CVS?

Citing Aetna's underperformance, CVS fired division head Brian Kane in August, handing the reins of the business directly to Cowhey and then-CEO Karen Lynch. Two months later, CVS' board replaced CEO Karen Lynch with Joyner, who previously ran CVS' pharmacy benefit manager Caremark.

Which pharmacy is better, CVS or Walgreens?

Both Walgreens and CVS are excellent choices when it comes to filling a prescription. Prices are very competitive, so it really comes down to convenience factors such as location availability or extra services and rewards offered by either store.

Does it matter which pharmacy you go to?

Some health plans also have preferred in-network pharmacies which the health insurance company usually has agreements with to provide medication at an even more discounted price. Make sure you are getting your prescriptions filled at an in-network or preferred in-network pharmacy to keep your costs lower.