isn’t CVS just doing whatever the doctor is prescribing without any judgement? i don’t see how CVS would be liable here unless they failed to verify the authenticity of a prescription or something on purpose.
Also remember that CVS is basically a monopoly wholesaler as well as a retailer — so they can play games at that level as well like stuffing the channel to favor the manufacturer that pays them more on the backend. Railroad trusts and standard oil did the same thing in the 1900s.
This is especially true in places where states have hobbled regulatory power. Little towns in West Virginia were dispensing more opioids than counties in other places. In places with more robust regulation, the pharmacists will lose their license.
The whole thing is disgusting and really illustrates how amoral and evil outfits like McKinsey are, and how their way of thinking is a more in your face vision of what many corporate leaders believe.
I’m trying to imagine this 45 year old CVS VP of Product stuffing the channel with opiates & hiding the analytics on one hand. And on the other hand feeling real bad somebody somewhere ODed.
These emotions - they belong to two very different people. Who don’t like each other at all.
“Your pharmacists get paid $150k to count pills and assess risk. They failed to assess risk, here’s a bonus for continuing to hire people who don’t do their job.”
That's the theory. In reality it's just as you say.
If you walk into a pharmacy with just an opioid prescription, and you’re not a regular or something seems off such as it’s hand written, chances are you’re going to get denied or at least won’t get your medication until they call the doctor and discuss why you need it.
All the states even have a PDMP - prescription drug monitoring program - that pharmacies have to check before dispensing opioids to confirm the person’s prescription history.
It is a murder bonus; it proceduralized a public health crisis.
If you have a doctor who writes prescriptions by hand try taking it to different pharmacies, you'll find the procedures are rather different.