By Miller Jaden
Network Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana will get more than $200 million from two drugstore companies accused of contributing to the opioid epidemic.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said Monday that the state has negotiated tentative settlements with CVS and Walgreens totaling a total of $219 million. Indiana will get $105 million from CVS, $114 million from Walgreens, and $59.4 million from Walmart, which reached a similar arrangement with the state in November.
The settlements are the result of lawsuits filed by states and local governments alleging that large merchants contributed to the countrywide opioid problem by mishandling opioid painkiller prescriptions. In November, Walgreens and CVS provisionally agreed to pay approximately $5 billion to resolve the cases, while Walmart vowed to pay $3 billion.
All three merchants have consented to a court-ordered injunction ordering them to monitor, record, and exchange information regarding suspicious conduct associated with opioid prescriptions. The money from opioid settlements is likely to be used by states to assist pay for opioid abuse prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and rehabilitation programs.
The majority of Walmart’s payment will be made during the first year. CVS will make payments over a 10-year period, while Walgreens will make payments over a 15-year period.
According to Rokita’s office, payments might begin in the second half of 2023.
