<p>Walmart agreed on Tuesday to a framework that would have the company pay $3.1 billion to settle a nationwide lawsuit brought by states, tribes and municipalities over its role in the opioid crisis.</p> <p>Walmart’s agreement follows similar announcements earlier this month from CVS and Walgreens, which agreed to pay about $5 billion each to settle the lawsuits.&nbsp;</p> <p>The settlement framework does not include any admission of liability, and Walmart said it “strongly disputes” allegations the company failed to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its stores.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Still, the company said it believes the settlement framework “is in the best interest of all parties and will provide significant aid to communities across the country in the fight against the opioid crisis, with aid reaching state and local governments faster than any other nationwide opioid settlement to date, subject to satisfying all settlement requirements.”</p>