Although Walmart’s pharmacies have blocked “thousands of questionable physicians" from having their opioids scripts filled by its pharmacists, “certain DOJ officials have long seemed more focused on chasing headlines than fixing the crisis,” the retailer said. “They are now threatening a completely unjustified lawsuit against Walmart, claiming in hindsight pharmacists should have refused to fill otherwise valid opioid prescriptions that were written by the very doctors that the federal government still approves to write prescriptions.”
The chain has expressed its commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic, which has worsened in the last decade. However, there is no federal law requiring pharmacists to interfere in the physician-patient relationship to the degree that DOJ is demanding, according to Walmart. “In fact, expert federal and state health agencies routinely say it is not allowed and potentially harmful to patients with legitimate medical needs,” Walmart said.
