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Commitments, Contingent Liabilities and Litigation
3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments, Contingent Liabilities and Litigation
6. Commitments, Contingent Liabilities, and Litigation
Commitments
Generic Sourcing Venture with CVS Health
In July 2014, we established Red Oak Sourcing, LLC ("Red Oak Sourcing"), a U.S.-based generic pharmaceutical sourcing venture with CVS Health for an initial term of 10 years. Red Oak Sourcing negotiates generic pharmaceutical supply contracts on behalf of its participants. In August 2021, we amended our agreement to extend the term through June 2029. We are required to make quarterly payments to CVS Health for the term of the arrangement.
Contingencies
New York Opioid Stewardship Act
In 2018, the State of New York adopted the Opioid Stewardship Act (the "OSA"), which created an aggregate $100 million annual
assessment on all manufacturers and distributors that was assessed based on each manufacturer or distributor's share of the total morphine milligram equivalents sold or distributed in New York, the applicability of which was ultimately limited to two years (2017 and 2018).
Since fiscal 2021, we have made certain payments to New York State for our portion of the assessment. However, we, and other distributors, challenged the OSA as unconstitutional. In May 2024, the New York Appellate Division held that the 2017 assessment was unconstitutionally retroactive, directing a refund of assessments paid for calendar year 2017, but upheld the 2018 assessment. In fiscal 2025, both parties agreed to a settlement which will result in a refund of the portion we paid for calendar year 2017. The refund will be recognized upon receipt of the settlement.
Legal Proceedings
We become involved from time to time in disputes, litigation, and regulatory matters.
From time to time, we determine that products we distribute, source, manufacture, or market do not meet our specifications, regulatory requirements, or published standards. When we or a regulatory agency identify a potential quality or regulatory issue, we investigate and take appropriate corrective action. Such actions have led to product recalls, costs to repair or replace affected products, temporary interruptions in product sales, restrictions on importation, product liability claims and lawsuits, and can lead to action by regulators. Even absent an identified regulatory or quality issue or product recall, we can become subject to product liability claims and lawsuits.
From time to time, we become aware through employees, internal audits or other parties of possible compliance matters, such as complaints or concerns relating to accounting, internal accounting controls, financial reporting, auditing, or other ethical matters or relating to compliance with laws such as healthcare fraud and abuse, anti-corruption, or anti-bribery laws. When we become aware of such possible compliance matters, we investigate internally and take appropriate corrective action. In addition, from time to time, we receive subpoenas or requests for information from various federal or state agencies relating to our business or to the business of a customer, supplier, or other industry participants. Internal investigations, subpoenas, or requests for information could directly or indirectly lead to the assertion of claims or the commencement of legal proceedings against us or result in sanctions.
We have been named from time to time in qui tam actions initiated by private third parties. In such actions, the private parties purport to act on behalf of federal or state governments, allege that false claims have been submitted for payment by the government and may receive an award if their claims are successful. After a private party has filed a qui tam action, the government must investigate the private party's claim and determine whether to intervene in and take control over the litigation. These actions may remain under seal while the government makes this determination. If the
government declines to intervene, the private party may nonetheless continue to pursue the litigation on his or her own purporting to act on behalf of the government.
We accrue for contingencies related to disputes, litigation, and regulatory matters if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Because these matters are inherently unpredictable and unfavorable developments or resolutions can occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. We regularly review contingencies to determine whether our accruals and related disclosures are adequate. The amount of ultimate loss may differ from these estimates.
We recognize income from the favorable outcome of litigation when we receive the associated cash or assets.
We recognize estimated loss contingencies for certain litigation and regulatory matters and income from favorable resolution of litigation in litigation (recoveries)/charges, net in our condensed consolidated statements of earnings; however, losses and recoveries of lost profits from disputes that occur in the ordinary course of business are included within segment profit.
Because loss contingencies are inherently unpredictable and unfavorable developments or resolutions can occur, the assessment is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. We regularly review litigation matters to determine whether an accrual is appropriate or, where applicable, whether our accrual is adequate. The amount of ultimate loss may differ materially from amounts accrued, whether as a result of settlement discussions, a judicial decision or verdict, or otherwise. Unless otherwise disclosed, we are not able to estimate a range of reasonably possible losses, or additional losses for these matters.
Opioid Lawsuits and Investigations
As of September 30, 2025, we have $4.3 billion accrued for the opioid-related matters described below, of which $486 million is included in other accrued liabilities and the remainder is included in deferred income taxes and other liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. During three months ended September 30, 2025 and fiscal 2025, we made payments totaling $403 million and $798 million, respectively, which included our annual payments under the agreement to settle the vast majority of the opioid lawsuits filed by states and local governmental entities and payments related to the settlement agreements with the City of Baltimore and classes of third-party payors and acute care hospitals.
During the three months ended September 30, 2025 and fiscal year 2025, there were no material expenses recognized for these matters.
States & Political Subdivisions
In April 2022, we along with two other national distributors (collectively, the "Distributors"), without admitting liability or wrongdoing, became parties to National Opioid Settlement Agreement ("the NOSA") to settle the vast majority lawsuits and
claims brought by states and political subdivisions related to the distribution of opioid pain medications. In addition to the Distributors, parties to the NOSA include 48 states, the District of Columbia, and 5 U.S. territories. The NOSA also resulted in the resolution of the opioid-related claims of over 99 percent of political subdivisions in settling states (together with settling states and territories, the "Settling Governmental Entities").
Through October 2025, we have paid the Settling Governmental Entities approximately $2.2 billion and we expect to pay the Settling Governmental Entities additional amounts up to $4.1 billion through 2038. As required under the NOSA, a monitor is overseeing compliance with the Injunctive Relief provisions of the NOSA until 2027 and the distributors have engaged a third-party vendor to act as a clearinghouse for data aggregation and reporting, which distributors will fund until 2032.
West Virginia subdivisions and Native American tribes were not a part of the NOSA. In July 2022, we entered into separate agreements to settle the opioid-related claims of the majority of remaining West Virginia subdivisions and Native American Tribes for approximately $124 million over eleven years and $136 million over five years, respectively.
We have now resolved the opioid-related claims of all 50 states and the District of Columbia; however, lawsuits brought by certain subdivisions remain outstanding.
In July 2022, a judgment in favor of the Distributors was entered in a bench trial before a federal judge in West Virginia in a case brought by Cabell County and City of Huntington. In October 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated the district court's judgment and remanded the case for further proceedings. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this matter.
Private Plaintiffs
The NOSA does not address claims by private parties, which includes unions and other health and welfare funds, hospital systems and other healthcare providers, businesses, and individuals alleging personal injury. There were approximately 195 lawsuits brought by private plaintiffs pending as of October 28, 2025. Of these, approximately 51 are purported class actions. The causes of action asserted by these plaintiffs are similar to those asserted by public plaintiffs. We are vigorously defending ourselves in all of these matters.
Following resolution discussions with certain private plaintiffs during the six months ended December 31, 2024, Distributors finalized agreements with classes of third-party payors and acute care hospitals. Our portion of these settlements totaled $213 million. The settlement with the class of third-party payors was approved by the court in January 2025 and was finalized in August 2025. The settlement with the class of acute care hospitals was approved by the court in March 2025 and became final in April 2025.
Insurance Matters
We are involved in lawsuits in Ohio State court with insurers related to their obligations to reimburse us for defense and indemnity costs in connection with the lawsuits described above. An unfavorable outcome in these coverage matters may result in a change in loss reserves related to opioid litigation recorded by our captive insurance company, which would negatively impact cash flow.
During the three months ended September 30, 2025, we received $5 million in insurance recoveries related to opioid matters, which were recorded in the Pharma segment. During fiscal 2025, we received $25 million in insurance recoveries related to opioid matters. $12 million of the recoveries from our insurers were recorded in the Pharma segment. We have not recorded a receivable for any additional recoveries related to these insurance litigation matters as of September 30, 2025.
Department of Justice Civil Investigative Demand
In November 2023, we received a Civil Investigative Demand ("CID") from the Department of Justice focused on potential violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act in connection with a 2022 transaction in which we purchased a minority ownership interest in a rheumatology managed services organization and a group purchasing organization. We are cooperating with this investigation.
Cordis IVC Filter Matters
We have been named as a defendant in product liability lawsuits involving claims by plaintiffs that allege personal injuries associated with the use of inferior vena cava ("IVC") filter products. These lawsuits sought a variety of remedies, including unspecified monetary damages. The divestiture of the Cordis business did not include product liability related to the IVC filters in the U.S. and Canada, which we retained.
In April 2023, we executed a settlement agreement that will resolve approximately 4,375 claims for $275 million, which we have paid into a qualified settlement fund. Payments to qualified implantees are being made out of the qualified settlement fund and we expect continued payments as additional plaintiffs meet the procedural requirements.
We have also entered into other agreements, which, in addition to the settlement discussed above, resolved the vast majority of IVC filter product liability claims. These settlements did not resolve all IVC filter product liability claims, and we intend to continue to vigorously defend ourselves in the remaining lawsuits.
At September 30, 2025, we had a total of $40 million accrued for losses and legal defense costs, related to the IVC filter product liability lawsuits in our condensed consolidated balance sheets, which includes the $37 million in the qualified settlement fund.
Antitrust Litigation Proceeds
We recognized income for net recoveries in class action antitrust lawsuits in which we were a class member or plaintiff of $43 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024.