Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
CVS Health Subsidiary Settles Opioids Case With $15.3M Penalty
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 5 years ago on
May 13, 2020

Share

Omnicare Inc., a subsidiary of CVS Health, has agreed to pay a $15.3 million civil penalty to resolve allegations that it violated federal law by allowing opioids and other controlled substances to be dispensed without a valid prescription, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott said Wednesday in Sacramento.

“Failure to control access to prescription drugs can lead to the diversion of medication that could fall into the wrong hands with potentially devastating consequences.” — DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux 

“Failure to control access to prescription drugs can lead to the diversion of medication that could fall into the wrong hands with potentially devastating consequences,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux in a statement released Wednesday.

“Today’s settlement demonstrates DEA’s commitment in protecting the health and safety of the public by ensuring all entities involved in the distribution of controlled substances follow the law.”

Omnicare operates “closed-door” pharmacies, which are not open to the public, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Omnicare Failed to Control Emergency Kits

The company delivers controlled substances to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. In addition, it makes daily deliveries of prescription medications to residents of long-term care facilities. And, it pre-positions limited stockpiles of controlled substances at long-term care facilities in “emergency kits,” which are given to patients in emergencies.

These emergency kits, which often include opioids and other controlled substances that are commonly abused and diverted, remain part of Omnicare’s inventory and must be tightly controlled and tracked. The controlled substances may be dispensed only with a prescription.

“Omnicare failed in its responsibility to ensure proper controls of medications used to treat some of the most vulnerable among us,” said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon.

The federal investigation found that Omnicare failed to control emergency kits by improperly permitting long-term care facilities to remove opioids and other controlled substances from emergency kits days before doctors wrote a prescription, prosecutors said. The investigation also revealed that Omnicare had repeated failures in its documentation and reporting.

Omnicare Didn’t Admit to Liability

In addition to paying the $15.3 million civil penalty, Omnicare entered into an agreement with DEA  requiring the company to increase its auditing and monitoring of emergency kits at long-term care facilities. However, Omnicare did not admit to liability.

The settlement agreement, which was completed on May 6, resolves Omnicare’s civil liability for the alleged Controlled Substances Act violations in the districts of five U.S. Attorney’s Offices: the Central District of California, the Eastern District of California, the District of Colorado, the District of Oregon, and the District of Utah.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

As Controversies Pile Up, Trump Allies Increasingly Turn on One Another

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Johnny Quintana

DON'T MISS

Fox News Host? A Sheriff? Is There a Republican Who Can Finally Win Statewide in CA Again?

DON'T MISS

What if There’s No Way to Stop Trump’s Approach to Power?

DON'T MISS

Arambula Town Hall Will Examine CEMEX Mining Plan for San Joaquin River

DON'T MISS

Israel Steps up Gaza Strikes, Polio Vaccination Halted by Blockade

DON'T MISS

Gold’s Record Run Gains Further Traction; Market Conquers $3,500/Oz

DON'T MISS

How Companies Are Responding to Trump’s Tariffs

DON'T MISS

NCAA Passes Series of Rules That Sets Table for Schools to Pay Players Directly

DON'T MISS

NFL Draft: How to Watch, Dates, Draft Order and Potential Top Picks

UP NEXT

Fox News Host? A Sheriff? Is There a Republican Who Can Finally Win Statewide in CA Again?

UP NEXT

Arambula Town Hall Will Examine CEMEX Mining Plan for San Joaquin River

UP NEXT

South Asian Women Lead Merced School Boards. How Did They Rise to the Top?

UP NEXT

Paul Atkins Sworn in as US SEC Chair

UP NEXT

Woman in Fresno Mansion Fraud Case Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

UP NEXT

Trump Is Dismantling the Education Dept. How That Might Harm Special Ed

UP NEXT

Special Interests Pour More Than Half a Billion Into CA Lobbying

UP NEXT

Fresno Barbershop Shooting Leaves Man Dead, Two Others Injured

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Satbir Singh

UP NEXT

Steeply Discounted OD-Reversal Medicine Now Available to Any Californian

What if There’s No Way to Stop Trump’s Approach to Power?

36 minutes ago

Arambula Town Hall Will Examine CEMEX Mining Plan for San Joaquin River

40 minutes ago

Israel Steps up Gaza Strikes, Polio Vaccination Halted by Blockade

57 minutes ago

Gold’s Record Run Gains Further Traction; Market Conquers $3,500/Oz

1 hour ago

How Companies Are Responding to Trump’s Tariffs

2 hours ago

NCAA Passes Series of Rules That Sets Table for Schools to Pay Players Directly

2 hours ago

NFL Draft: How to Watch, Dates, Draft Order and Potential Top Picks

2 hours ago

Flores Launches Go-Ahead Homer as Lee, Birdsong Help Lift Giants Over Brewers

2 hours ago

Russia’s Putin Discusses US-Iran Nuclear Talks With Leader of Oman

2 hours ago

South Asian Women Lead Merced School Boards. How Did They Rise to the Top?

3 hours ago

As Controversies Pile Up, Trump Allies Increasingly Turn on One Another

WASHINGTON — The infighting and backstabbing that plagued President Donald Trump’s first term have returned as a threat to his second,...

5 minutes ago

5 minutes ago

As Controversies Pile Up, Trump Allies Increasingly Turn on One Another

Johnny Quintana is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for April 22, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
24 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Johnny Quintana

32 minutes ago

Fox News Host? A Sheriff? Is There a Republican Who Can Finally Win Statewide in CA Again?

36 minutes ago

What if There’s No Way to Stop Trump’s Approach to Power?

40 minutes ago

Arambula Town Hall Will Examine CEMEX Mining Plan for San Joaquin River

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip April 22, 2025. (REUTERS/Hatem Khaled)
57 minutes ago

Israel Steps up Gaza Strikes, Polio Vaccination Halted by Blockade

Gold bars are displayed at a gold jewellery shop in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh May 8, 2012. (REUTERS/Ajay Verma/File Photo)
1 hour ago

Gold’s Record Run Gains Further Traction; Market Conquers $3,500/Oz

The inside of a near by Kroger grocery store is seen in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. August 17, 2024. (REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo)
2 hours ago

How Companies Are Responding to Trump’s Tariffs

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend