Wisconsin legislators to consider opioid settlement payout

May 1, 2023

Updated: May 1, 2020 11:39 pm

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FILE – A man walks past the Wisconsin state Capitol on Oct. 10, 2012. Wisconsin legislators will accept their share of the settlement resulting from a multistate suit accusing drug distributors and manufacturers of contributing to America's opioid epidemic. In November and December, a coalition of state and local governments reached settlements with the opioid manufacturers Teva, Allergan and Walgreens and CVS. The total amount was $19.2 billion. Wisconsin will receive approximately $324.3 millions.

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FILE – The Allergan Logo appears above a trading desk on the New York Stock Exchange floor on November 23, 2015. Wisconsin legislators will accept their state's portion of a settlement resulting from a multistate suit accusing drug distributors and manufacturers of contributing to America's opioid epidemic. In November and December, a coalition of state and local governments reached settlements with the opioid manufacturers Allergan, Teva, as also with the pharmaceutical chains Walmart Walgreens and CVS. The total amount was $19.2 billion. Wisconsin will receive approximately $324.3 millions.

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FILE – Trucks drive past the Teva Pharmaceutical Logistic Center, in the Israeli town of Shoam on October 16, 2013. Wisconsin legislators will accept their state's portion of a settlement resulting from a multistate suit accusing drug distributors and manufacturers of contributing to America's opioid epidemic. In November and December, a coalition of state and local governments reached settlements with the opioid manufacturers Teva, Allergan and Walgreens and CVS. The total amount was $19.2 billion. Wisconsin will receive approximately $324.3 millions.

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MADISON (Wis.) (AP), Wisconsin legislators will accept their state's portion of a settlement resulting from a multistate lawsuit accusing the drug manufacturers and distributors for contributing to the opioid crisis in the United States.

In November and December, a coalition of state and local governments reached settlements totaling $19.2 Billion with opioid manufacturers Teva, Allergan and with the pharmaceutical chains Walmart Walgreens CVS.

Wisconsin will receive approximately $324.3 millions, of which 30% goes to the state government and 70% to county governments. The Joint Finance Committee of the Wisconsin Legislature will vote Tuesday on whether or not to accept this money.

The companies will be subject to a Wisconsin Circuit Court order that requires them to make significant changes to the way prescription opioids are sold.

Teva and Allergan agreed to limit the marketing, promotion, sales and distribution of opioids. According to documents prepared for the state Justice Department, the pharmacy chains will implement regulations addressing compliance structures as well as pharmacist judgment.

In state and federal court, more than 3,000 lawsuits were filed by state, local, and tribal governments, Native American Tribes, hospitals, and other entities over the opioid crisis. The majority of lawsuits claim that the opioid industry has created a public nuisance during a crisis which has led to the death of more than 500,000 Americans in the last 20 years.

Wisconsin reached similar settlements in 2022 with four companies in the opioids industry -- Johnson & Johnson AmerisourceBergen Cardinal Health McKesson.