Perspectives We Share & McKesson Statements

Oct. 21, 2019 – AmerisourceBergen (NYSE: ABC), Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) and McKesson (NYSE: MCK) announced this morning that they have agreed to a $215 million settlement with two Ohio counties, Cuyahoga and Summit, in the first track of the multi-district opioid litigation. With this settlement agreed upon, the companies and the other parties will now continue the work toward a global resolution.

While the companies strongly dispute the allegations made by the two counties, they believe settling the bellwether trial is an important stepping stone to achieving a global resolution and delivering meaningful relief. The companies expect settlement funds to be used in support of initiatives to combat the opioid epidemic, including treatment, rehabilitation, mental health and other important efforts.

The distributors remain deeply concerned about the impact the opioid epidemic is having on families and communities across the nation – and are committed to being part of the solution.

Third-party Perspectives

• HDA Statement on Enhanced DEA ARCOS Data Monitoring, by John Gray, president & CEO, Healthcare Distributors Alliance, 2/27/19
• The Opioid Epidemic Requires Focus on Education and Awareness, by John Gray, president & CEO, Healthcare Distributors Alliance and James F. Cawley, president of the PA Foundation, in Morning Consult, 3/2/18
• HDA Statement on Review of Annual Production Quotas for Opioids, by John Gray, president & CEO, Healthcare Distributors Alliance, 3/2/18
• How can we stop America's opioid crisis now, by John Gray, president & CEO, Healthcare Distributors Alliance in Roll Call, 11/27/17
• The Opioid Puzzle, by the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, 10/27/17
• Truth is the key to solving the opioid crisis, by Rep. Tom Marino in The Hill, 10/25/17
• A Bipartisan Drug Cartel?, by the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, 10/24/17
• How healthcare providers can help end the overprescription of opioids, by Anupam B. Jena, Michael Barnett and Dana Goldman, Harvard Business Review, 10/24/17
• The opioid contagion, by Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News, 10/19/17
• Drop the conspiracy theories. Congress didn't hobble the DEA., by Sen. Orrin Hatch in the Washington Post, 10/17/17
• Drug Law Hasn't Hurt Law Enforcement, by John Gray, president & CEO, Healthcare Distributors Alliance, 10/17/17
• FDA Takes Important Steps to Stem the Tide of Opioid Misuse and Abuse by Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Commissioner, U.S. Food & Drug Administration, 9/28/17
• PhRMA Announces Support for Seven-Day Script Limit on Opioid Medicines for Acute Pain, by Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, 9/27/17
• Opioid Litigation Shouldn't Profit Lawyers Over Patients by Tiger Joyce, president, American Tort Reform Association, 9/10/17
• Opioid Epidemic Needs a Systemic Response by John Gray, president & CEO, Healthcare Distributors Alliance, 7/12/17

McKesson Statements

• Press Release | Distributors Reach Settlement With Ohio Counties in Opioids Case, 10/21/19
• McKesson Letter | Letter to New York State Comptroller and Connecticut Treasurer, 6/13/18 (PDF, 279 KB)
• Congressional Testimony | John Hammergren Written Testimony for United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, 5/8/18 (PDF, 79.9 KB)
• Press Release | McKesson announces new initiatives, launches foundation to help fight nation’s opioid epidemic, 3/29/18
• LinkedIn Blog | Loosening Opioids’ Grip: Using Technology to Address Overprescribing, by John Hammergren, chairman & CEO of McKesson, 1/30/18
• Letter to the Editor (Washington Post ) | Let's shine real light on the opioid crisis — and what to do about it, by John Hammergren, chairman & CEO of McKesson, 12/22/17
• Statement | McKesson Responds to Recent 60 Minutes Story, 12/18/17
• McKesson Letter | Comments on President’s Declaration of the Opioid Epidemic as a National Public Health Emergency, 10/31/17 (PDF, 306 KB)
• Press Release | McKesson Supports Declaring Opioid Epidemic a National Emergency, 10/23/17
• Statement | McKesson Responds to State Attorneys General Investigation of U.S. Opioid Epidemic, 9/19/17 (PDF, 166 KB)
• McKesson Letter | Comments on President's Opioid Commission Draft Interim Report, 9/18/17 (PDF, 295 KB)
• LinkedIn Blog | Changing Prescribing Habits is Key to Solving Opioid Problem, by John Hammergren, chairman & CEO of McKesson, 8/28/17