Retail giant Walmart on November 15 became the latest major player in the drug industry to announce a plan to settle lawsuits filed by state and local governments over the toll of powerful prescription opioids sold at its pharmacies with state and local governments across the U.S.

The Guardian reports that the $3.1 billion proposal follows similar announcements on November 2 from the two largest U.S. pharmacy chains, CVS Health and Walgreen Co, which each said they would pay about $5 billion.
Walmart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, said in a statement that it “strongly disputes” allegations in lawsuits from state and local governments that its pharmacies improperly filled prescriptions for the powerful prescription painkillers. The company does not admit liability with the settlement plan.

Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, said in a release that the company would have to comply with oversight measures, prevent fraudulent prescriptions and flag suspicious ones.

Lawyers representing local governments said the company would pay most of the settlement over the next year if it is finalized. The deals are the product of negotiations with a group of state attorneys general, but they are not final.