The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit against Walgreens Boots Alliance and its subsidiaries, alleging the pharmacy chain filled millions of unlawful prescriptions in violation of federal laws. The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, accuses Walgreens of dispensing prescriptions without legitimate medical purposes and seeking reimbursements from federal health programs unlawfully.
"This lawsuit seeks to hold Walgreens accountable for the many years that it failed to meet its obligations when dispensing dangerous opioids and other drugs," stated Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. He further claimed that Walgreens pharmacists filled prescriptions with "clear red flags" indicating their potential illegality.
From August 2012 to present, the government alleges Walgreens knowingly dispensed controlled substances without valid medical purposes. This includes excessive opioid quantities and early refills as well as combinations known as "trinity," which involve opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants.
Walgreens is accused of pressuring pharmacists to fill prescriptions quickly without proper validation checks and depriving them of critical information about prescribers. These actions allegedly violated both the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and False Claims Act (FCA).
Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual emphasized the importance of these laws in protecting communities from opioid dangers: "These laws are critically important in protecting our communities from the dangers of the opioid epidemic."
U.S. Attorneys across various districts have expressed commitment to addressing issues related to unlawful prescription filling practices by pharmacies like Walgreens.
Anne Milgram, DEA Administrator, highlighted Walgreens' failure to fulfill its responsibility: "As this lawsuit alleges, Walgreens failed in this obligation, and many times ignored the red flags that warned of suspicious prescribing practices."
Deputy Inspector General Christian J. Schrank noted that when pharmacies prioritize profits over patients' safety, they compromise public health trust: "Millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, and other public health care programs count on pharmacies to dispense drugs responsibly."
Four whistleblowers who previously worked at Walgreens initiated actions under FCA provisions before being consolidated into this case. The United States' intervention signifies a broader effort against healthcare fraud through mechanisms like FCA.
Assistant Director Amy DeLine along with several attorneys represent the United States in this matter while various agencies including DEA provided substantial assistance during investigations.
No liability determination has been made yet regarding claims asserted against defendants involved in fueling America’s ongoing opioid crisis.