CVS Pays $315M Settlement, Enters DEA Compliance Agreement Over Opioid Dispensing

CVS Pharmacy agreed to a $315 million civil settlement covering alleged unlawful opioid and controlled substance dispensing from 2013 through 2025, including filling prescriptions with red flags, early refills, and 'trinity' combinations. Separately, CVS entered a memorandum of agreement with DEA requiring a public/employee hotline, proactive dispensing pattern monitoring, and a prescriber evaluation process. This signals active DEA and DOJ scrutiny of pharmacy-side dispensing compliance, particularly around red-flag recognition obligations.