Drug Companies Plan Tax Breaks To Offset $26 Billion Opioid Settlement
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Cardinal Health is one of four of the biggest American health companies have tentatively agreed to pay $26 billion to settle their opioid liability. But tax breaks could allow them to claw back $4 billion.
Darron Cummings / AP
Four of America s biggest healthcare companies are close to a $26 billion settlement for their role making and distributing highly addictive opioid medications.
But critics in Congress say corporate tax breaks could slash the value of the deal by more than $4 billion. If they get away with it, that means less money going into the treasury, less money for programs that would help deal with the fallout for the opioid crisis, said Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA).