Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed a lawsuit against 19 Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) companies and drug manufacturers, alleging their involvement in an insulin pricing scheme. The announcement was made today.
In a statement released by the Attorney General’s office, Hanaway said the lawsuit addresses concerns over rising insulin costs and alleged price manipulation. She noted that the increasing prices over the past 15 years have created financial challenges for nearly 450,000 uninsured Missourians, approximately 18 percent of whom have diabetes.
The petition, filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court, alleges that certain PBMs engaged in a conspiracy violating the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA), which protects against deceptive business practices. Companies named in the lawsuit include Evernorth Health, Inc., CVS Health Corporation, and pharmaceutical firms such as Eli Lilly and Company. The announcement outlined the role of PBMs in setting insulin prices, affecting sales both in Missouri and nationwide.
Interim Deputy Attorney General Jeremiah Morgan commented on the lawsuit, stating that access to insulin should not be limited by pricing practices that negatively affect families. The complaint highlights that PBMs have established systems that benefit themselves while placing financial strain on consumers. According to the filing, about one in four people with diabetes in the U.S. face difficulties affording their medication, which the lawsuit attributes to these pricing strategies.
The lawsuit asks the court to declare the insulin pricing practices unlawful, stop the alleged predatory behavior through injunctive relief, and require the defendants to provide financial restitution to affected Missouri consumers. If granted, the case could establish a precedent for corporate accountability and the prevention of deceptive business practices in the state.
