From staff reports OKLAHOMA CITY – The office of the state Attorney General is suing CVS Caremark for multiple pharmacy benefit management (PBM) violations, in the f irst case that will be heard in the agency’s newly established PBM Administrative Court.
In the complaint, Attorney General Gentner Drummond outlined 200 individual prescription claims that were reimbursed below acquisition cost – in violation of state law – to 15 Oklahoma pharmacies.
Broken Arrow Family Drug filled nearly half of the 200 pr escriptions that were reimbursed under cost. United Discount Pharmacy, Thompson’s Pharmacy, Medic Pharmacy at Hefner Pointe in Oklahoma City, and several other pharmacies account for the remaining prescriptions.
“Collectively, these pharmacies lost thousands of dollars to fill these prescriptions and help patients get the medications they needed,” Drummond said. “It is critical that we have a safe and fair marketplace for pharmaceuticals in Oklahoma.”
The pharmacies filed appeals after receiving their reimbursements, but CVS Caremark denied them, claiming incorrectly that a lower acquisition price was available.
Drummond said additional violations that have not yet been reported are possible. He encouraged pharmacies and patients to report suspected PBM violations to the Office of the Attorney General at oklahoma.gov/ oag/pbm.
Pharmacy Benefit Management compliance and enforcement in Oklahoma moved to the Attorney General office in November 2023.
Southwest Ledger published a package of three stories about PBMs – including “PBMs in crosshairs of President-elect, Oklahoma and other states” – on Dec. 31.