Walmart must pay New York State $116 million following allegations that the company contributed to the opioid crisis by failing to regulate opioid prescriptions in its stores, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced today.
New York’s was part of a $3.1 billion multi-state settlement with Wal-Mart in which James co-led a coalition of attorneys general in negotiations. The settlement will provide $3.1 billion to communities nationwide and will require significant improvements in how Walmart’s pharmacies handle opioids. New York will receive $116 million out of the $3.1 million settlement.
According to James, this marks $2.1 billion that she has secured from multiple lawsuits and settlements to fight the opioid crisis.
The state attorneys general on the executive committee, attorneys representing local governments, and Walmart have agreed to this settlement, which is now being sent to other states for review and approval.
“For decades, the opioid epidemic has ravaged communities here in New York and across the country,” said James. “Pharmacies such as Walmart played an undeniable role in perpetuating opioids’ destruction, and my fellow attorneys general and I are holding them accountable. You cannot put a price on lives lost and communities destroyed, but with the $2.1 billion we have delivered to New York, we will continue to recover, rebuild, and strengthen our defenses against future devastation.”
In addition to providing $3.1 billion to be divided by sign-on states, local governments, and tribes to be used for opioid treatment, recovery, and abatement, the settlement announced today will include broad, court-ordered requirements Walmart must comply with, such as robust oversight to prevent fraudulent prescriptions and flag suspicious prescriptions.
James and her colleagues are optimistic that the settlement will gain support of the required 43 states by the end of 2022, allowing local governments to join the deal during the first quarter of 2023. Further details about how the money will be distributed among localities is forthcoming.
Last month, states confirmed that promising negotiations were also underway with Walgreens and CVS. Efforts to reach those agreements are ongoing.
Joining Attorney General James in leading the executive committee that negotiated this agreement are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.
