CVS to pay Massachusetts $795K, tighten policies for opioids

CVS has agreed to pay Massachusetts $795,000 and will tighten its policies for dispensing opioids following an investigation into its drug prescription practices.

Attorney General Maura Healey announced the settlement Thursday. She says it resolves allegations that CVS failed to provide its pharmacists with a way to access the state's Prescription Monitoring Program, an online database that provides a patient's prescription history designed to curb the abuse of addictive medications.

The Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based drug store giant will now require its Massachusetts pharmacists to check the database before filling prescriptions for commonly misused opioids.

It has also agreed to pay $795,000, revise its prescription drug policies and retrain pharmacists.

CVS didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Healey says the company has about 350 pharmacies and 1,200 pharmacists in Massachusetts.