COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and a team of negotiators have set the table for a $3.1 billion settlement with Walmart, to hold the retail company accountable for its role in the opioid-addiction crisis, Yost’s office announced Tuesday.
What You Need To Know
- The settlement would provide $3.1 billion to participating states, cities, counties and other local governments
- The deal stems from Walmart’s failure to properly oversee the dispensing of opioids
- It is expected Ohio will receive more than $114 million
- The use of the funds must provide treatment and recovery services to people struggling with opioid use disorder
The settlement would reportedly provide $3.1 billion to participating states, cities, counties and other local governments for recovery efforts.
Yost and 15 other attorneys general, in partnership with attorneys representing local governments in their respective states, worked out the preliminary deal.
The deal stems from Walmart’s failure to properly oversee the dispensing of opioids from roughly 5,000 pharmacies nationwide.
The settlement arises from investigations by Yost and the other state attorneys general into Walmart’s distribution of fraudulent and suspicious prescriptions.
As a part of the settlement, Walmart would also have to make “robust improvements” in the oversight of its pharmacies.
“Anytime we can get a worldwide company like Walmart to implement systematic changes that will benefit Ohioans long term, I’d say that’s a significant win,” Yost said. “This resolution brings meaningful relief to our communities in need. Let’s put this money to good use.”
The money will be divided by the states that sign on to the agreement and distributed to local governments. It is expected Ohio will receive more than $114 million.
The use of the funds must provide treatment and recovery services to people struggling with opioid use disorder.
States have until the end of 2022 to sign on to the agreement, with a minimum of 43 states required. Local governments will then have the first quarter of 2023 to join the deal.
“This agreement puts financial incentives in place that could make a real difference in the lives of Ohioans,” Yost said. “I hope other companies will follow Walmart in reaching a national agreement.”
The final amount will be determined based on participation in settlement agreements from cities, counties and other local governments. The money will be distributed through the OneOhio model.
Yost has continuously worked to set Ohio and its subdivisions up to receive more than $1 billion for opioid recovery and abatement.
Other settlements include: an $808 million settlement with opioid distributors Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, a $185 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., and a $24.7 million settlement with McKinsey & Co.
Joining Yost in leading the Walmart negotiations were the attorneys general from North Carolina, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Texas.
