Walgreens and the US Justice Department: A $106 Million Settlement Over False Claims

Walgreens to Settle False Claims Allegations

Walgreens will pay $106 million to address allegations raised by the U.S. Justice Department regarding false claims related to prescriptions. The accusations state that for more than a decade, Walgreens billed federal health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid for prescriptions never collected by patients. This malpractice emerged from whistleblower reports, exposing a significant breach of trust in healthcare practices.

Details of the Allegations

The investigation concluded that Walgreens had submitted claims for prescriptions processed between 2009 and 2020, even though beneficiaries never picked them up. Consequently, Walgreens received tens of millions of dollars for services not rendered.

Walgreens' Response and Remediation Efforts

• Walgreens has credited the U.S. Justice Department for their proactive measures to disclose and cooperate during the investigation.
• Enhancements to their electronic pharmacy management system have been implemented to avoid future irregularities.
• A refund of $66,314,790 was previously issued by Walgreens, which contributed towards the settlement.

Walgreens is committed to better practices and ensuring compliance in the healthcare industry.