US Sues Rite Aid for Missing Opioid Red Flags

WASHINGTON—The U.S. government on Monday sued Rite Aid Corp., accusing the pharmacy chain of missing “red flags” It illegally filled thousands of prescriptions for controlled drugs, including opioids.

A complaint was filed in Cleveland federal courts by the Department of Justice claiming Rite Aid had repeatedly filled prescriptions that were not medically necessary, for off-label usage, or not issued in normal professional practice.

“The Justice Department is using every tool at our disposal to confront the opioid epidemic that is killing Americans and shattering communities across the country,” In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland stated.

Rite Aid pharmacists were accused in ignoring warning signs of misuse, such as prescriptions. “trinities,” A combination of opioids, muscle relaxants, and benzodiazepine that drug addicts love for their enhanced euphoric effects.

Rite Aid also admitted that it had intentionally removed some internal warnings from pharmacists about suspicious prescribers. “cash only pill mill???”While admonishing them, “be mindful of everything that is put in writing.”

“These practices opened the floodgates for millions of opioid pills and other controlled substances to flow illegally out of Rite Aid’s stores,” Vanita Gupta, Associate Attorney General, said.

Rite Aid is the nation’s largest pharmacy chain, with over 2,330 stores across 17 U.S. States. It has yet to respond to inquiries for comment.

Rite Aid was accused by the Justice Department of violating federal False Claims Act. Rite Aid submitted false prescription claims to government healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

It joined a whistleblower case filed in 2019 in Pennsylvania by two pharmacists as well as a pharmacy techniec from Rite Aid stores across Pennsylvania, North Carolina, West Virginia.

Sometimes, the Justice Department joins whistleblower cases that it considers more serious.

The company also sued Walmart Inc., AmerisourceBergen Corp., and AmerisourceBergen Corp. for their alleged involvement in the opioid crisis.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 500,000 people were killed by drug overdoses from 1999 through 2020. This includes 90,000 in 2020.

U.S. ex rel White et al v Rite Aid Corp. et al., U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, No. 21-01239.

Jonathan Stempel