Philly sues CVS Health, other pharmacy benefit managers for their roles in opioid crisis

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SparkGlyph

Philadelphia is taking a tough stand against some of the nation's largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including CVS Health, Express Scripts, and Optum, over their alleged role in perpetuating the opioid crisis.

The city claims that these PBMs knowingly over-distributed opioids and engaged in deceptive marketing practices to maximize profits. As intermediaries between insurers and drug manufacturers, they supposedly made it easier for powerful and addictive opioids to flood local communities.

Mayor Cherelle Parker's statement underscores the gravity of the situation: "They made it easier for powerful, addictive opioids to flood our communities... We will not sit idly by while corporations boost their bottom lines at the expense of the health and safety of Philadelphians."

The lawsuit alleges that CVS Health, Express Scripts, and Optum had access to vast amounts of data on drug distribution, insurance claims, and clinical records, yet they continued to prescribe and dispense opioids in exchange for rebates and other fees from manufacturers.

In essence, the city is accusing these PBMs of profiting off a deadly crisis that has ravaged Philadelphia. The nearly 300-page complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as court-ordered corrective action programs.

While CVS Health has denied the allegations, Express Scripts and Optum remain silent. The city's demand for accountability comes at a critical time, when opioid-related fatalities have decreased by 19% from 2023 to 2024, but still remain a devastating public health concern.

The impact of the crisis is evident in Philadelphia's Black and Hispanic communities, which have been disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic. The city's Chief Public Safety Director, Adam Geer, emphasizes that holding those responsible accountable will help right this "tragic wrong" and ensure that the city continues to address the issue.

With nearly 50 million fentanyl doses seized in Pennsylvania, including 27 million from the Philadelphia region, it's clear that the opioid crisis is far from over. The city's lawsuit marks a significant step towards seeking justice for those affected by this devastating public health emergency.
 
🤯 Opioid crisis in Philly gets real 🚨 - I'm so done with big corporations profiting off people's suffering. These pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are supposed to be intermediaries, not enablers! They have access to tons of data and still manage to keep opioids flowing into communities. It's like they're playing a sick game where profits come before lives 🤑. I'm glad Philly is taking a stand and demanding accountability. We need systemic change, not just Band-Aid solutions 💔. The fact that CVS Health has denied the allegations but Express Scripts & Optum are silent? 🤷‍♂️ It's like they're trying to hide behind the shadows. Let's hope justice comes soon for those affected by this crisis 👊
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around all these changes since I last checked in 2023... Anyway, what I think is kinda crazy is that PBMs are being sued like this? Like, they're profiting off opioids or something? I remember when OxyContin first came out and everyone was worried about it. Now we know how bad it's gotten.

I'm not surprised the city is taking a stand, tho. It's Philly, after all. They've always been proud to take on tough issues. And yeah, 19% fewer opioid-related fatalities in 2024? That's still super sad, but I guess it's a start?

The thing that gets me is how these companies knew about the issue and did nothing. Like, they had access to all this data and just kept prescribing opioids anyway? That's some shady stuff right there. And now they're denying everything? Come on! The city's got evidence, dude.

I hope they win this lawsuit and get some real accountability for what these companies have done. We need people held responsible for the harm they've caused. It's time to put an end to this opioid crisis once and for all 💔
 
I'm all about facts here 🤔, so I need some solid evidence to back up these claims. If PBMs are really profiting off opioids and knowingly over-distributing them, that's a huge red flag. But where's the proof? Are we talking about some sort of whistleblowing or internal documents that show otherwise? And what about all those rebates and fees - how do we know they weren't just negotiated rates for legit prescriptions? I need to see some concrete numbers and sources before I start jumping on this bandwagon 📊.
 
omg can you believe this?? 🤯 these pharmaceutical companies are literally profiting off people's lives 💸 they're like, knowingly flooding our communities with deadly opioids and now philly is taking them to court 🚔 i'm so glad the city is holding them accountable 👏 it's a start but we gotta keep pushing for change 💪 those numbers of fentanyl doses seized in pennsylvania are wild 50 million+ is crazy 😲 and 27 million from Philly alone is heartbreaking 💔 we need more action, not just lawsuits 🤝
 
I think it's about time someone held these big pharmacy companies accountable for their role in perpetuating the opioid crisis 🤯. I mean, if they had access to all that data and still kept prescribing opioids left and right, that's just crazy talk. It's not like they were trying to help people or anything, right? They were just more interested in lining their pockets with cash 💸. And now, the city is saying we're going to make them pay for it, which I think is totally fair 😒. Philly has been hit hard by this crisis, and it's time someone took responsibility. Fingers crossed the lawsuit goes through and those companies get what's coming to them 🤞
 
I'm seeing where Philly is coming from 🤔. These PBMs have got some 'splainin' to do if they're really as profiteer-y as the city says they are 💸. The fact that they knew about all that data and just kept on prescribing opioids like they were candy, makes their whole operation kinda shady ⚠️.

It's especially tragic when you think about how these communities have been hit hard by this epidemic 💔. Holding the corporations accountable will be a big deal in helping to address the issue 🤝.

But at the same time, I'm also thinking that we need to be looking at how we can create better systems for managing prescriptions and addiction. It's not just about who's profiting from it, but about making sure everyone has access to proper care 💊.

The city's going in the right direction by taking action against these PBMs, but I hope this isn't all about slapping them with fines 🤑. We need real change here, and that means looking at how we can build more sustainable solutions for public health 🌟.
 
IM HOPE THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA GETS JUSTICE FOR THIS! IT'S CRAZY TO THINK THAT THESE PBMS WERE WILLFULLY OVER-DISTRIBUTING OPIOIDS AND PROFITING OFF A DEADLY CRISIS LIKE THIS 🤯. I MEAN, WHO DOES THAT?!?! IT'S DISGUSTING. THE FACT THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT ALL THIS DATA BUT CONTINUED TO PREScribe AND DISPENSE OPIOIDS FOR MONEY IS JUST SAD 🚫. THE CITY NEEDS TO GET THOSE RESPONSIBLE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN HIT SO HARD BY THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC 🌟. I GUESS THIS LAWSUIT MIGHT HELP BRING SOME MUCH-NEEDED TRANSPARENCY AND CONSEQUENCES TO THOSE INVOLVED 💼.
 
🚨💉 I'm totally with Philly on this one! These PBMs need to be held accountable for putting profits over people's lives. It's wild that they had access to so much data but still kept pushing opioids anyway... like, what's the point of having all that info if you're just gonna keep it a secret? 🤔 The fact that Express Scripts and Optum are being super quiet is just icing on the cake – it's like they're trying to sweep this under the rug. 💸 Philly's taking a huge step in seeking justice, and I hope they get some real change out of this lawsuit! 💪
 
can you believe what's going on with these pharmacy benefit managers? 🤯 they're basically profiting off people's suffering and pushing out opioids like it's no big deal 🚫. philadelphia is taking a stand and holding them accountable, which is long overdue 🙌. the fact that they had all this data at their fingertips and still managed to dispense so many opioids is just mind-boggling 🤯. it's heartbreaking to think about how many lives have been lost because of these corporations' greed 💔. it's time for them to step up and do what's right, not just talk about it 👊.
 
The system has a way of working against us sometimes 🤯. It's crazy to think that these big pharmacy benefit managers were making millions off opioids while our communities were getting hurt bad 🌪️. The city is like, "You can't just ignore the problems and keep taking money from people in exchange for it" 💸. It's time to hold those in power accountable and make sure we're not just talking about fixing the problem but actually doing something about it 💪.
 
ugh, finally some ppl are calling out these big pharma companies for their role in the opioid crisis 🙄. i mean, it's not like they're just innocent bystanders who got swept up in a deadly trend or anything... lol, nope, they actively profited off of it. and now philly is taking them to task, demanding accountability for all the pain & suffering they caused 💸. good on 'em! but seriously, how many more lives need to be lost before these corporations take responsibility? 🤦‍♀️ also, 19% decrease in opioid-related fatalities is a tiny step forward, but better late than never, right? 🕰️
 
🤯 I'm low-key impressed that Philly's taking on these PBMs 📊! According to some stats I found, the US opioid crisis has resulted in 111,560 deaths between 1999 and 2020 🚑. The city's demand for accountability is long overdue 💼.

In terms of the financial impact, a 2022 report from the CDC estimated that the cost of treating substance use disorders in the US was over $78 billion 💸. Philly's lawsuit could be a major step towards recouping some of those costs 🤑.

Express Scripts and Optum are literally silent on this issue 👀. Meanwhile, CVS Health has already lost around $10 billion due to opioid-related settlements 😬. It's time for them to take responsibility for their actions 💪.

Here's a rough breakdown of the opioid crisis in Philly:

* 2023: 1,444 overdose deaths
* 2024 (pre-lawsuit): 1,133 overdose deaths
* Fentanyl seizures in PA: 27 million (as of 2022)
* Philly's Black and Hispanic communities have been disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic

It's clear that more needs to be done 🙅‍♂️. But with the city's lawsuit, we're one step closer to holding these corporations accountable 💼!
 
🤕 Philly's taking down the big pharmacies that made opioids flood their streets 🚫💊 They're not just profiting off pain meds, they're profiting off people's lives 💸😱 The opioid crisis is still killing people in Philly and holding corporations accountable can't come soon enough ⏰
 
I was just thinking about my favorite ice cream shop near my place and they're having a new flavor month 🍦🎉. They have these crazy flavors like matcha green tea, strawberry basil, and even a spicy mango one that sounds interesting but might be too weird for me 😂. I wonder if the city's opioid crisis would be worse if Philly had more ice cream shops? Just kidding, kinda. But seriously, it's scary to think about how these big corporations are profiting off a deadly crisis. Did you know that my neighbor has been selling old laptops online and is making a killing 🤑. Anyway, back to the city's lawsuit... I'm all for holding those responsible accountable, but isn't this just another example of how our healthcare system is messed up? And have you tried those new Philly cheesesteak places downtown? The lines are crazy long, but worth it?
 
Ugh, can't believe these PBMs are getting away with this stuff for so long... 🤯 I mean, come on, 19% decrease in opioid-related fatalities is still a huge problem and it's not like they're just sitting around twiddling their thumbs while the city takes action. It's about time someone held them accountable. CVS Health might be denying, but Express Scripts and Optum should be too, don't think they're above the law... 🚫 The data is there, the evidence is there, it's not like they're just making this stuff up. And to think the city's getting a nearly 300-page complaint going on... that's commitment to justice right there. Better late than never, I guess? 💯
 
I gotta say, Philly's being super proactive about this whole PBM thing 🤔. I mean, come on, these pharmacies have been accused of basically profiting off a deadly crisis that's ravaged the city. Like, what's next? Are they gonna get sued for selling air or something? 😂 But seriously, it's about time someone took them to task over their alleged role in perpetuating this opioid crisis.

And let's be real, CVS and Express Scripts are like the poster children for profiteering off people's misery. I mean, who needs a rebate check when you can have a life saved? 🤑 The fact that they're denying these allegations is just laughable, but at least Optum has some guts to stay quiet.

I do gotta give credit to Philly for taking this one on – 300 pages of complaint isn't something to be taken lightly. This is huge, and it's about time someone held them accountable. The opioid crisis is far from over, but if Philly can get these PBMs to cough up some cash, that's a step in the right direction.

But here's the thing: this ain't just about Philly – it's about the nation as a whole. We need more cities and states taking action against these profiteering pharmacies. The opioid crisis is a national emergency, and we can't keep letting corporations get away with putting profits over people's lives 💸.
 
It's about time someone is holding these big pharma companies accountable for their role in perpetuating the opioid crisis. I mean, come on, 19% decrease in fatalities isn't exactly something to be celebrated. Those communities that have been hit hard need justice and it's clear that the city is trying to do just that.

It's crazy how much data these PBMs had access to but still managed to enable this disaster. It's like they were more interested in lining their pockets than helping people. The fact that Express Scripts and Optum are remaining silent on this is just frustrating.

I'm glad the city is taking a stand, even if it means going up against some big names. Philly has always been about standing up for what's right, even when it's hard. This lawsuit may be a long shot, but at least they're trying.
 
Its really messed up 💔 when companies prioritize profits over people's lives, you know? Philly's taking a stand against these huge pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) like CVS Health, Express Scripts, and Optum - they're saying that these companies deliberately made it easier for opioids to flood their communities, which is just devastating 🤯. I mean, we already know how bad the opioid crisis is, but Philly's getting hit even harder, especially in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods.

The city's accusing these PBMs of using data on drug distribution and insurance claims to keep prescribing and dispensing opioids for cash from manufacturers - it's like they're profiting off a deadly crisis 🤑. And the fact that Express Scripts and Optum aren't speaking up is just weird, you know? CVS Health denied the allegations, but still.

The thing is, Philly's not alone in this fight - the opioid crisis is everywhere 🌎. But it's good to see cities like Philly taking a stand and seeking justice for those affected. This lawsuit might be a big step towards holding these companies accountable and making sure they don't get away with this 💪.
 
man I cant believe what's going on in philly... PBMs think they can just flood the streets with opioids and make bank off it? 🚫👎 the fact that they knew or at least suspected it was happening but did nothing is infuriating. its like theyre more worried about their bottom line than human lives. the city's lawsuit better hold them accountable, we need to see real change from these corporations. 300 pages of complaint is just the beginning, i hope they actually follow through with some serious consequences for these guys...
 
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