Sixth Circuit Torn Over Remanding Drug Pricing Case to State

A complicated battle over how industry drug pricing tactics affect patients in private and state health insurance plans appeared to leave the Sixth Circuit undecided Thursday on whether the case belongs in state court, with one judge saying the complaint was so long-winded he hadn’t read it yet.

The case before the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit revolves around whether pharmacy benefit managers—which control the prescription drug benefit for health plans—conspire to raise prices and whether courts can separate the industry business model for federal and non-federal clients.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sued Express Scripts, Inc. ...