Prime Therapeutics, BCBS Benefits Manager, Facing Antitrust Suit

Prime Therapeutics LLC, a pharmacy benefit manager owned by members of the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance network, was hit Friday with federal antitrust claims in Los Angeles over its alleged decision to slash pharmacy reimbursement rates as part of an agreement with a rival.

The collaboration between Prime and Cigna Corp. subsidiary Express Scripts Inc., a leading PBM, “is about price-fixing, not combining complementary assets or capabilities,” according to the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Prime didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. ESI isn’t named as a defendant.

PBMs ...