Aggrostats

BATONROUGE, La. —Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is taking on one of the most powerfulforces in the American healthcare system, filing a lawsuit against ExpressScripts, Inc. and its affiliate Ascent Health Services, LLC for manipulatingthe prescription drug marketplace at the expense of Louisiana families,patients, and independent pharmacies.

ExpressScripts and its partners used enormous market power to restrict competition,manipulate pharmacy reimbursement rates, conceal profits, and steer patientstoward pharmacies they own or control—all while claiming to deliver savings.

AttorneyGeneral Murrill says enough is enough.

“Louisianafamilies are working harder than ever to pay their bills, and they shouldn’thave to fight a profiteering middleman just to afford the medicine prescribed bytheir doctor,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill. “PBMs have built a systemwhere they can profit from higher drug prices, squeeze pharmacies in ourcommunities, and limit choices available to patients. Louisiana will not sit onthe sidelines while Express Scripts and Ascent put profits ahead of people.”

Theseconsequences extend beyond individual patients. Independent pharmacies havebeen forced to accept reimbursement rates that can fall below the cost ofacquiring medications, while facing substantial fees and other restrictivecontract terms. The decline of independent pharmacies threatens access tohealthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

The State arguesthat Express Scripts entered into an unlawful agreement with PrimeTherapeutics, a direct competitor, to coordinate pharmacy reimbursement ratesand fees while increasing their collective leverage over drug manufacturers. Theconduct contributed to higher drug prices, lower reimbursement for independentpharmacies, and reduced competition.

“Patientsdeserve transparency. Pharmacists deserve a fair marketplace. And Louisianafamilies deserve to know that the healthcare system is working for them—notagainst them,” said Murrill.

The Stateis seeking damages, civil penalties, attorneys’ fees, and an injunctionprohibiting unlawful conduct under federal and Louisiana law.

Read the full complaint below.

/Files/Article/624/Documents/Complaint-FileStamped.pdf