McKesson opioid settlement overview:
- Who: McKesson Corp., Cencora Inc. and Cardinal Health have reached a $300 million class action settlement.
- Why: The McKesson settlement will resolve claims from health insurers and benefit plans over the drug distributors’ alleged role in the opioid crisis.
- Where: The opioid class action lawsuit was filed in Ohio federal court.
Three of the country’s largest drug distributors have reached a $300 million class action settlement over allegations they contributed to the opioid crisis, Reuters reports.
McKesson Corp., Cencora Inc. and Cardinal Health deny any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the McKesson opioid class action lawsuit to escape claims from health insurance companies and benefit plans over the drug companies’ alleged failure to regulate the amount of opioid painkillers to be sold through illegal channels.
Paul Geller, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, said the McKesson settlement covered third-party payers that “largely paid for the overprescribed and overmarketed pills and for the treatment required when their plan beneficiaries inevitably suffered opioid use disorder.”
The proposed settlement class includes insurance companies and benefit plans that paid for or were reimbursed for prescription opioid drugs manufactured or distributed by the defendants and/or that incurred costs for treatment related to misuse, addiction and/or overdose of opioid drugs since Jan. 1, 1996.
McKesson will pay approximately 38% of the $300 million McKesson settlement amount, while Cardinal and Cenora will pay about 31%.
The plaintiffs have asked an Ohio federal judge to preliminarily approve the McKesson opioid settlement.
McKesson settlement part of effort to seek accountability for opioid crisis
Thousands of opioid lawsuits have been filed with the goal of holding drug manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies accountable for fueling the opioid crisis and hundreds of thousands of opioid overdoses in the United States over the last two decades.
More than $50 billion in settlements have been reached to date. Most of the opioid settlements have been reached with states and local governments.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals recently agreed to pay $150 million to escape allegations it failed to report suspicious opioid orders made by potentially illegal distributors. A California federal judge also recently approved a $78 million settlement over allegations McKinsey and Co. deceptively advertised its opioid prescription drugs.
What do you think about the McKesson settlement agreement? Join the discussion in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Paul J. Geller and Mark J. Dearman of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP; Elizabeth J. Cabraser and Eric B. Fastiff of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP; Peter H. Weinberger of Spangenberg Shibley & Liber; Jayne Conroy of Simmons Hanly Conroy; Joseph F. Rice of Motley Rice; and Paul T. Farrell Jr. of Farrell & Fuller LLC.
The McKesson opioid settlement is In re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation, Case No. 1:17-md-02804-DAP, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division.
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150 thoughts onMcKesson, Cardinal, Cencora to pay $300M settlement over role in opioid epidemic
I am still suffering from the greed that drove the epidemic of opioid addiction. I was asked prior to being prescribed opioids if I had any family history of addiction. I was always honest and said yes my mom was an alcoholic and over user of prescription medication. Dr. Greenwell’s assured me I would only have a dependence on Oxy but not addiction.
Is this still pending or settled?
I’ve been on the lawsuit from the beginning. Since it started I’ve gotten 100% worse. I’m now paralyzed on one side of my body. I’ll just be happy to get anything. Hopefully a good amount to do something with.
why are the families who have lost a loved one NOT getting compensated i lost my 18 yr old daughter and then had to adopt my own grandson to keep him after her death & Indiana my state gets millions split betweeen counties to do w/ what they see fit pave roads whatever real smack in the face to ppl who have been addicted to this medicine dont ya think if it wasnt for all who are addicted/have been addicted will be etc and all our loved ones lost there would not be a dam lawsuit did ya forget about us????? i have pain and suffering daily mfrom this where the hell is my compensation her sons compensation i have to worry daily being on fixed income how i am gonna raise him all because pain pills what about christmas for all my grandsons and the state gets millions to do whatever with wow wow wow
Why don’t the actual victims of the opioid crisis not directly get any of the money from all these different lawsuits? I only see the government, states & counties getting money from these settlements. I am a person in recovery due to the opioid crisis. I was prescribed opioids and that led to many years of my addiction. I have been sober for 5 years now but it’s a struggle and a fight I have to fight everyday for the rest of my life!! It’s time we get something for our pain and suffering and money spent trying to recover!! Please add me to this lawsuit!