PROVIDENCE – CVS Health Corp. has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $535,000 to resolve federal allegations that the company’s retail stores violated the Controlled Substances Act by filling invalid prescriptions in Rhode Island, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
The DOJ alleged that several CVS Pharmacy retail locations in Rhode Island filled 39 prescriptions for Percocet, a Schedule II narcotic, when CVS pharmacists had reason to know the prescriptions were forged.
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The company denied wrongdoing but acknowledged that pharmacists bear a responsibility under the law to ensure a prescription is valid and legal along with physicians who may only prescribe painkillers and opioids for legitimate medical purposes.
“This settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice remains committed to using all the legal tools at its disposal to ensure that everyone in the chain of controlled substance distribution – from physicians to pharmacists – abides by the strict requirements of the law,” stated U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. He can be reached at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
