In a significant legal move aimed at addressing the opioid crisis in Utah, Attorney General Sean Reyes has filed a lawsuit against two prominent Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), UnitedHealth Group and Express Scripts, for their alleged role in the proliferation of opioid sales. According to the Utah Attorney General's Office, the complaint, filed in Summit County, charges these entities with aggravating the opioid epidemic by acting as intermediaries in an already fraught pharmaceutical landscape.
The lawsuit highlights the tragic impact of the opioid crisis, one that has torn through communities and cut short the lives of many Utahns. Attorney General Reyes stated, "For far too long, opioids were misrepresented as safe, as they ripped apart families, trapped users, and killed innocent victims," as obtained by the Utah Attorney General's Office. Following aggressive and multifaceted litigations, Reyes's office has succeeded in reclaiming over $540 million for the state to mitigate the effects of this widespread public health nightmare. Driven to accountability, Pharmacy Benefit Managers are the latest focus, accused of knowingly multiplying tragic outcomes in a situation fraught with addiction and abuse.
Joining forces with Reyes, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection is a plaintiff in the case, emphasizing the need for transparency and justice for the victims of opioid abuse. As reported by the Utah Attorney General's Office, the division's Executive Director Margaret Busse underscored this stance, saying, "Pharmacy Benefit Managers have played a covert role in the opioid abuse crisis." She supported the efforts to expose the PBMs' secret dealings, aiming to restore trust within the affected communities. Filed against specific subsidiaries of both UnitedHealth Group and Express Scripts, the lawsuit represents a broader strategy to peel back layers of harmful corporate conduct that have fueled the crisis.
Utah's legal representatives, including Douglas Crapo from the Attorney General’s White Collar and Commercial Enforcement Division, expressed gratitude at the opportunity to stand for aggrieved Utahns. Reflecting on the case's essence, Crapo noted, "This litigation is part of Utah's ongoing effort to combat the worst human-made epidemic in modern medical history." The state's legal team condemned the practices that led to an oversupply of opioids, which devastated communities and profited at the cost of public health. With the lawsuit against these PBMs, Utah intends to hold another cog in the destructive machine of the opioid epidemic responsible.
