Kentucky’s Attorney General Russell Coleman has expanded his opioid-related lawsuit to include OptumRx, a major pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), accusing the company of playing a key role in the state’s opioid crisis. The move marks a significant step in the state’s ongoing legal efforts to hold pharmaceutical entities accountable for the devastation caused by the opioid epidemic.
New Defendant in Kentucky’s Opioid Crisis Lawsuit
On Tuesday, Coleman announced that OptumRx, part of the Optum group, would be added to the list of defendants in the lawsuit that was initially filed two months ago. The lawsuit now targets both OptumRx and Express Scripts, which was named in the original filing. Coleman argues that OptumRx, with its extensive pharmacy network of approximately 67,000 locations nationwide, played a central role in promoting, dispensing, and oversupplying opioids.
The lawsuit accuses OptumRx of promoting a “profit-fueled agenda” at the expense of Kentucky families, contributing to the state’s ongoing addiction crisis. Kentucky has been one of the hardest-hit states in the opioid epidemic, with some of the highest overdose death rates in the nation.
“These groups pushed a profit-fueled agenda at the expense of Kentucky families, who are left with empty seats at the dinner table,” said Coleman in a statement.
Allegations of Deceptive Marketing and Oversupply
Coleman’s legal action includes accusations that OptumRx and its affiliates used deceptive marketing practices to boost opioid sales, contributing to widespread addiction. Additionally, the lawsuit claims the companies facilitated the oversupply of opioids by dispensing them through mail-order pharmacies without adequate controls, violating both state and federal laws.
In his lawsuit, Coleman seeks civil penalties for each willful violation of the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act and other appropriate relief. He alleges that OptumRx and other defendants hid their actions through “non-transparent business practices” and forced confidentiality agreements to keep their business dealings secret.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers Under Fire
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play a central role in the prescription drug market by determining which drugs are covered by insurance plans, negotiating drug prices, and deciding where patients can fill their prescriptions. Over the years, PBMs have faced growing scrutiny from lawmakers and the public due to concerns over their influence on drug prices and their role in the opioid crisis.
PBMs like OptumRx are accused of prioritizing profits over patient safety, a claim that has prompted legal challenges across the country. While PBMs argue that they help control drug costs and pass savings to consumers, critics assert that their business practices have contributed to the opioid epidemic by allowing dangerous drugs to flood the market.
Opioid Crisis and Legal Battles Continue
The lawsuit against OptumRx represents the latest frontier in the ongoing legal battles over the opioid epidemic. Drug manufacturers, wholesalers, and pharmacy chains have already faced numerous lawsuits, with many companies settling and committing to fund efforts to combat addiction and overdose deaths.
While overdose death rates in Kentucky fell nearly 10% in 2023, the state’s leaders emphasize that the fight against the opioid epidemic is far from over. Nearly 2,000 Kentuckians died from drug overdoses last year, highlighting the ongoing toll of the crisis.
