“The Walmart settlement provides the fastest and most truncated stream of rebates to communities of any pharmacy settlement,” said Paul Geller, a local government attorney, “which is especially remarkable given that Walmart’s opioid dispensing was less than the other large pharmacy chains in both number and strength of pills.”
Like previous settlement agreements, the Walmart deal must be approved by a large majority of state and local governments to take full effect. North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said the Walmart deal is on track for approval by 43 states by the end of this year, opening the door for local governments to sign by the first quarter of 2023.
The opioid crisis
From powerful drugs to illegally made synthetics, opioids are fueling a deadly drug crisis in America.
In a statement, the company said: “Walmart believes the settlement framework is in the best interests of all parties and will provide significant assistance to communities across the country in the fight against the opioid crisis, with aid reaching state and local governments faster than any other any other. other rural opioid settlement to date.
But the statement also said the company still “strongly contests the allegations” against the company in the lawsuits. “This settlement framework does not include any admission of liability,” the statement said.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong noted that the Walmart agreement contains court-mandated requirements to closely monitor prescriptions, as a stopgap against so-called pill-mill doctors and to prevent patients from seeking multiple prescriptions for opioids .
Similar safeguards have been introduced in opioid settlement agreements with companies across the pharmaceutical industry, including manufacturers and distributors, in an effort to slow widespread abuse.
Mr. Stein, the North Carolina Attorney General, said: “This deal with Walmart adds to the important progress we’ve already made through our settlements with the opioid manufacturers and distributors — and we’re not done yet.”
Plaintiffs’ lawyers said some previous agreements had yet to be finalized and deals were also being sought with smaller pharmacy chains and drug manufacturers.
