CVS Health agreed to pay $315 million to resolve a U.S. Justice Department case alleging that its pharmacies unlawfully dispensed medically unnecessary opioid prescriptions and other controlled substances, including prescriptions tied to suspected pill mills. The settlement resolves a 2024 government lawsuit alleging violations of the Controlled Substances Act and claims that CVS sought reimbursement from Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs for prescriptions that should not have been filled. CVS denied wrongdoing and said the agreement contains no admission of liability. The company must implement additional safeguards to ensure opioids and other controlled substances are dispensed only when medically appropriate. The case followed a False Claims Act complaint filed by former CVS employee Hillary Estright, while CVS separately agreed in 2022 to a $5 billion nationwide opioid settlement with state, local and tribal governments.