Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Walgreens helped fuel San Francisco’s opioid crisis, judge rules
washingtonpost.com ^ | August 10, 2022 | By Meryl Kornfield

Posted on 08/10/2022 8:32:53 PM PDT by BenLurkin

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said Walgreens “substantially contributed” to one of the nation’s deadliest public health crises by not stopping suspicious orders and dispensing drugs that were diverted for illicit use, causing a public nuisance in a major city that is among the hardest hit by addiction and overdoses. Walgreens, responsible for shipping nearly 1 out of every 5 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills distributed nationwide during the height of the opioid crisis, was the only drug company sued by San Francisco that did not settle, going to trial in April.

“Walgreens has regulatory obligations to take reasonable steps to prevent the drugs from being diverted and harming the public,” Breyer wrote. “The evidence at trial established that Walgreens breached these obligations.”

Walgreens spokesman Fraser Engerman said the company was “disappointed” with the decision and would appeal.

“As we have said throughout this process, we never manufactured or marketed opioids, nor did we distribute them to the ‘pill mills’ and internet pharmacies that fueled this crisis,” he wrote in an email. “We stand behind the professionalism and integrity of our pharmacists, dedicated healthcare professionals who live in the communities they serve.”

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Health/Medicine; Local News; Society
KEYWORDS: charlesbreyer; charlesrbreyer; clintonjudge; ndcalifornia; rapinbilljudge; sanfrancisco; stephenbreyer; stephenbreyerbrother; walgreens
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last
To: brianl703

I can guarantee you an insurance company would not try that bullshit more than once.

It’s an easily solved situation. You call the insurance company and demand to speak to the supervisor. Be sure to tell that person that their only duty is to fill the prescription signed by your doctor, and that to do otherwise is an illegal practice of medicine. If the supervisor still refuses to have their pharmacists fill you prescription without being hassled, demand to talk to the supervisor’s supervisor. Repeat the previous steps and keep moving up the food chain until you talk to someone in management who just doesn’t want to deal with it.

As a last resort, you can have your doctor call and demand they fill your prescriptions
That will definitely work and you won’t be hassled in the future. My wife takes a nber of medications and on occasion will told she cannot get a brand name medication that works, but the generic doesn’t. I tell my wife I will take care of it so she doesn’t have to deal with the insurance company, and I do.

Once, I cited the insurance company’s own policy and got the result we wanted. I asked the supervisor if she and her subordi ates kept a copy of their policy manual on their desks. She said they did not, when I asked if might be a good idea, she had to agree.

Don’t take any shit from your insurance company. As soon as they realize that being a hassle for you isn’t worth the effort, they will comply. They ALWAYS do; no exceptions.


21 posted on 08/11/2022 12:13:07 PM PDT by WASCWatch ( WASC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: WASCWatch

If you’re trying to fill a 30-day prescription for Adderall on day 15, it isn’t going to happen with most insurance companies, no matter how much you complain.


22 posted on 08/11/2022 1:51:55 PM PDT by brianl703
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: brianl703

I currently get my Adderall prescription shipped and delivered in two business days from the VA.

If I still had private insurance, I guarantee you I’d get the prescription within 2-3 days. When I was getting it through private insurance, I’d get a 90 day supply within 3-4 days.


23 posted on 08/11/2022 3:13:44 PM PDT by WASCWatch ( WASC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: brianl703

You would be wrong. I never complained after the first time the insurance company tried to screw around with prescription, because I made lawful threats if they didn’t fill it within just a very few days. After the first time, no problems.


24 posted on 08/11/2022 3:16:37 PM PDT by WASCWatch ( WASC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: WASCWatch

Your state must have very lax laws on that.

30 days max in Virginia.

No mail order, must pick it up in person AND present an ID.


25 posted on 08/11/2022 3:51:42 PM PDT by brianl703
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: WASCWatch

Oh, they’ll fill it right as soon as you present the prescription..as long as it’s been long enough (25 days?) since you last had that same prescription filled.


26 posted on 08/11/2022 3:53:08 PM PDT by brianl703
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: brianl703

When I was on private insurance, I could pick up a 90 day supply at a CVS pharmacy one mile from my house. Of course I had to show an ID, but you have to do that for every prescription.

It was only when I started getting it from the VA that they would only give me a 30 day supply. That was the VA, but not an FDA requirement at the time. Of course the FDA could have changed the policy to just a 30 day supply since then; and, an individual state could have a different law.


27 posted on 08/11/2022 4:50:31 PM PDT by WASCWatch ( WASC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: brianl703

Depending on if I am travelling somewhere, I can get earlier than that. The VA doctor who renews my prescription is great with those situations. He also knows I don’t have any mental health issues.

My VA primary care doctor used to ask me about mental health issues when I had an appointment. After doing that twice, I told her my only problem was her asking me about it every time I saw her; and to stop it. She’s never asked again.


28 posted on 08/11/2022 4:56:56 PM PDT by WASCWatch ( WASC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: brianl703

Depending on if I am travelling somewhere, I can get earlier than that. The VA doctor who renews my prescription is great with those situations. He also knows I don’t have any mental health issues.

My VA primary care doctor used to ask me about mental health issues when I had an appointment. After doing that twice, I told her my only problem was her asking me about it every time I saw her; and to stop it. She’s never asked again.


29 posted on 08/11/2022 4:56:56 PM PDT by WASCWatch ( WASC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: WASCWatch

Virginia only makes you show an ID for prescriptions that are put in the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP), which are mainly opioid painkiller and stimulant prescriptions (drugs with a high abuse potential and which have a high street value).

Otherwise, no ID is required...thankfully, because I had to pick up prescriptions for my dad when he got older and wasn’t able to do that himself anymore.

Interesting to see how the state requirements differ.

The PMP is supposed to help detect drug diversion and abuse, for example, if someone is getting multiple prescriptions for painkillers from different doctors. Most states have them these days. I don’t think they’re connected, though, so a prescription in the Virginia PMP won’t show up in the Kentucky PMP.


30 posted on 08/11/2022 5:28:39 PM PDT by brianl703
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
The opioid crisis is being fueled entirely by the justice department.. There are those who are getting filthy rich defending, holding, housing, feeding and caring for the victims of this, so called, epidemic..

The democrats are making money hand over fist selling the fentanyl, crack, meth and who knows what. But the real money is made on the "law and order" side of the deal. So, the problem ain't going to go away anytime soon..

Well, that's my opinion...

31 posted on 08/11/2022 6:03:15 PM PDT by unread ("It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required." W. Churchill.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson