CVS Pharmacy just fined $5 BILLION – $5,000,000,000 for fraud

CVS Health and Walgreens on Wednesday said they had agreed in principle to pay about $10 billion in total to settle a series of opioid-related lawsuits brought against the pharmacy chains.

CVS said it had agreed to a $5 billion settlement designed to “substantially resolve” the open opioid lawsuits against it.

“We are pleased to resolve these longstanding claims and putting them behind us is in the best interest of all parties, as well as our customers, colleagues and shareholders,” said Thomas Moriarty, CVS’s chief policy officer and general counsel, in a statement. “We are committed to working with states, municipalities and tribes, and will continue our own important initiatives to help reduce the illegitimate use of prescription opioids.”