News Briefs: Hawaii Sues Big PBMs

The state of Hawaii on Oct. 4 in federal court sued the Big Three PBMs — CVS Health Corp.’s Caremark, UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx, and The Cigna Group’s Express Scripts. The suit accuses the firms of “siphon[ing] increasing amounts of money from the pharmaceutical supply chain while significantly increasing prices for consumers, employers, and other health care payers” through unfair trade practices. According to a press release from Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, M.D., and Attorney General Anne Lopez, both Democrats, the complaint accuses PBMs of “unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts and practices in violation of Hawaiʻi law,” such as inappropriate fees charged to manufacturers for formulary placement. The state will seek civil penalties of $10,000 per violation, with additional penalties sought for “each deceptive or unfair act that was directed towards an elder.”

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