We represent victims of reverse discrimination and anti-DEI whistleblowers

Many businesses bear responsibility for the prescription opioid crisis that has ravaged the United States during the 21st Century. Pharmaceutical manufacturers made billions of dollars selling Hydrocodone (Vicodin) and Oxycodone (Percocet), as well as other types of opioid pills to addicted individuals. Major drugstore chains also played a significant role by taking profits based on fraudulent and nonexistent prescriptions.

Now, a nationwide pharmacy giant has reached a nine-figure settlement with the federal government in response to claims of misconduct involving their distribution of opioid pills. Walgreens will pay $300 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the False Claims Act (FCA) by filling millions of invalid prescriptions and then billing federal health care programs for them. Should Walgreens be sold prior to fiscal year 2032, an additional $50 million must be paid. 

In the complaint brought by federal authorities including the Food and Drug Administration, Walgreens is accused of focusing on speed, rather than regulatory compliance, in its dispersal of these powerful drugs. This meant that the company’s pharmacists felt pressured to complete transactions quickly rather than taking the time to assess whether the prescription order was valid. Moreover, it is alleged that when compliance officials at Walgreens were notified regarding suspicions of unlawful activity, they did not take effective action to stop it, going as far to prevent pharmacists from obtaining information that would help them decide if an order should be filled.

When profits take priority over following the law, the damage can be severe. In this case, programs such as Medicare and Medicaid footed the bill for prescriptions that never should have been filled in the worst place. Even worse, thousands of Americans die each year due to opioid addiction, and many more have their lives changed. 

Pharmacies and healthcare providers have a legal and ethical obligation to ensure that prescriptions for controlled substances are lawful and medically necessary. Failure to do so violates the FCA and CSA.  Don’t stay silent if you have reliable knowledge of prescription drug fraud. Kardell Law Group will examine the facts in your case and outline the available legal options. This might include a whistleblower action where you can receive a substantial monetary award for identifying fraud against the government.