Optum, Express Scripts Sued by Arkansas Over Opioid Epidemic (1)

Arkansas on Monday sued two major pharmacy benefit managers and their subsidiaries, alleging they fueled the state’s opioid epidemic.

Optum RX Inc., and Express Scripts Inc. colluded with opioid manufacturers, placed profits over safety, and engaged in a scheme to increase the sale of prescription opioids in Arkansas, state Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a complaint filed in Arkansas Circuit Court of Pulaski County.

“Pill by pill and dollar by dollar, PBMs enabled the opioid epidemic in Arkansas,” Griffin said in a statement. “Today, we begin the process of holding them accountable for their roles ...