New York (CNN Business) Walmart on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the federal government asking a court to clarify that the company and its pharmacists were not responsible for the distribution of improper opioid prescriptions. The retailer said the suit is in response to threats of legal action by the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Agency to hold Walmart pharmacists responsible, in part, for the opioid crisis, according to a press release from. "Walmart and our pharmacists are committed to helping address the opioid crisis that has affected so many," the company said in the release. Walmart says its pharmacists have, in fact, "refused to fill hundreds of thousands of problematic opioid prescriptions" and the company has blocked "concerning" doctors from filling opioid prescriptions at its pharmacy, according to court documents. "We need a court to clarify the roles and legal responsibilities of pharmacists and pharmacies in filling opioid prescriptions."

Source: CNN October 22, 2020 23:37 UTC