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CVS Pharmacy Agrees to Pay $3.5 Million to Resolve Allegations of Filling Fake Prescriptions
BOSTON, MA – In one of the largest settlements to date involving federal allegations of prescription drug diversion in Massachusetts, CVS Pharmacy, Inc., has agreed to pay $3.5 million to resolve allegations that 50 of its stores violated the Controlled Substances Act by filling forged prescriptions for controlled substances – mostly addictive painkillers – more than 500 times between 2011 and 2014.
The settlement resolves two investigations of CVS stores initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after it received an increased number of calls reporting forged oxycodone prescriptions. In the first investigation, the DEA identified forged prescriptions filled 403 times at 40 CVS stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In the second investigation, the DEA identified 120 forged prescriptions filled at 10 CVS stores in and around Boston.
The forged prescriptions traced back to just a few individuals. One of the forgers, P.R., signed a dentist’s name on 56 of 59 oxycodone prescriptions that P.R. was then able to get filled at five CVS locations. CVS pharmacists filled these prescriptions even though CVS banned P.R. in 2011 and its computer system contained notes warning that P.R. had tried to fill forged prescriptions in the past.
Another forger, E.M., signed a dentist’s name on 131 prescriptions for hydrocodone – another highly addictive opioid – and then had them filled at eight CVS stores. One of those stores, in South Dennis, Mass., filled 29 forged prescriptions for E.M. in just six months. Those 29 prescriptions totaled 1,290 pills of hydrocodone, or seven pills a day.
The street value of the diverted pills was estimated to be over $1 million. CVS has entered into a three-year compliance agreement with the DEA that requires CVS to maintain and enhance programs it has developed in recent years for detecting and preventing diversion of controlled substances.
“Pharmacies have a legal responsibility to ensure that controlled substances are dispensed only pursuant to valid prescriptions,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. “When pharmacies ignore red flags that a prescription is fraudulent, they miss a critical opportunity to prevent prescription drugs from entering the stream of illegal opiates on the black market. Diverted painkillers are contributing to the devastating opioid epidemic in our Commonwealth.
“DEA registrants like CVS have a corresponding responsibility to dispense controlled substances in accordance with the Controlled Substance Act. When pharmacies fail to adhere to these responsibilities, it allows for the diversion of prescription pain medication, which contributes to the widespread abuse of opiates, is the gateway to heroin addiction, and is devastating our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson.
CVS Pharmacy, Inc.
Defendant/respondent: CVS Pharmacy, Inc.
Exact criminal charges: Violating the Controlled Substances Act by filling forged prescriptions for controlled substances
City and state: Boston, MA
Exact date: between 2011 and 2014
Sentence or outcome: CVS agreed to pay $3.5 million and enter into a three-year compliance agreement with the DEA
Dollar amounts: $3.5 million
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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