CVS

The settlements left Walgreens as the sole defendant in a lawsuit that targeted businesses involved in all aspects of the opioid industry. A Pasco County judge is scheduled to begin jury selection next week.

The verdict in federal court comes as three of the country's largest pharmacy chains face thousands of lawsuits filed by communities across the U.S. The companies say they did nothing wrong dispensing huge quantities of opioids.

The closures will begin in the spring of 2022, according to the company.

Most of the available positions are for licensed pharmacists, trained pharmacy technicians and nurses at CVS Pharmacy locations

According to Cathy Bedy, a licensed clinical social worker at a CVS in Seminole, telehealth can provide services within 24 hours of the request. It's valuable time saved when people are reaching out for help.

The announcement comes as the pace of vaccinations begins to lag nationally, and several states have created lottery prizes to entice residents to get shots.

The sweepstakes launches June 1 with weekly drawings and more than 1,000 potential prizes for customers who get COVID shots through CVS or register for them.

Few begrudge vaccine providers the chance to make money for offering a life-saving service during a pandemic, but the shot business has given a big boost at the cash register after a difficult year.

More than 200,000 doses of COVID vaccine have gone to waste since December, KHN has learned. Two national pharmacy chains account for most of it.

As the number of people seeking therapy soars during the pandemic, CVS has begun testing a model to offer counseling services at stores in the greater Tampa Bay region, Houston and Philadelphia.