On Tuesday, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced that he, along with 15 other state attorneys general, led negotiations on a $3.1 billion settlement with Walmart.
BREAKING NEWS: Tennessee and its local governments will receive over $70 million from Walmart after reaching a settlement over allegations the company played a role in fueling the opioid crisis. Funds will be used to help communities fight back. Read more: https://t.co/aus4CODFcm pic.twitter.com/7yPM4mCBlT
— TN Attorney General (@AGTennessee) November 15, 2022
The Walmart settlement was in regard to “resolving allegations that the company contributed to the opioid addiction crisis by failing to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its stores,” according to a press release by Skrmetti’s office. The settlement will “provide more than $3 billion nationally and will require significant improvements in how Walmart’s pharmacies handle opioids.”
Aside from the $3.1 billion being divided by participating states and local governments in order to support efforts to abate the opioid crisis, the settlement also includes “broad, court-ordered requirements, including robust oversight to prevent fraudulent prescriptions and flag suspicious prescriptions,” according to Skrmetti’s office.
As part of the total settlement, the State of Tennessee and its local governments could receive more than $70 million if all incentives are met, Skrmetti’s office notes.
Additionally, Walmart has committed $3.1 billion to settle governmental claims and provide resources for abatement with additional funds for a separate agreement with tribes.
“Tennessee and its people continue to suffer from the ravages of the opioid epidemic, but this settlement will provide further resources toward recovery,” Attorney General Skrmetti said in a statement. “The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office continues to serve as a leader in the national effort to hold opioid distributors accountable. As part of this effort, Walmart has committed to pay over $3 billion nationwide and to ensure safeguards that will help protect its customers from opioid misuse. I expect this settlement will result in significant additional funding for Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Trust Fund and will create new opportunities to help our communities fight back against opioid abuse. I am proud of the work of our Consumer Protection Division in securing this settlement. This deal with Walmart adds to the progress we have already achieved through our settlements with the opioid manufacturers and distributors – and we’re not done yet.”
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Jonathan Skrmetti” by TN.gov. Background Photo “Walmart” by TaurusEmerald. CC BY-SA 4.0.
