The Justice Department announced October 13, 2026 that CVS Pharmacy Inc. and related entities agreed to pay $315 million to resolve allegations that from October 17, 2013 through December 2, 2025 they illegally filled opioid and other controlled-substance prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substances Act, then sought payment for many of them from Medicare and other federal health programs in violation of the False Claims Act.
The government filed its complaint December 13, 2024 in the District of Rhode Island, alleging CVS knowingly filled prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose or were not valid. The case began as a whistleblower suit by former CVS employee Hillary Estright, which the United States took over. Her share of the recovery has not been set.
Under the agreement CVS must put in place additional safeguards so opioids and other controlled substances are dispensed only when medically appropriate, including proactive monitoring of opioid prescribing patterns. The settlement resolves allegations; it is not a finding of liability.