Ohio Sues PBMs Alleging Antitrust Violation Over Drug Prices

The State of Ohio sued multiple pharmacy benefit managers alleging the companies illegally fixed prescription drug prices in violation of state antitrust law.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a complaint on behalf of the state in the Ohio Court of Common Pleas on Monday, claiming Express Scripts Inc. and other large PBMs engaged in a civil “pay to play” conspiracy which artificially raised the cost of drugs like insulin.

“At one point, ‘Big Pharma’ was justly criticized for overpricing medications. PBMs were created as a market response to that criticism,” the complaint alleges. “This intermediary negotiator system worked until ...