Ohio attorney general alleges $16 million in overcharges from pharmacy company

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed additional charges against OptumRx, a pharmacy benefit manager, alleging $16 million in overcharges.

“It’s time for the feet-dragging to stop — we’ll see you in court,” Yost said in a news release.

The lawsuit seeks damages from OptumRx for an alleged breach of contract. The suit claims that the company was required to offer the state the best available rate, but consistently overcharged the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation with “unreasonable prices for generic drugs.”

The lawsuit claims that OptumRx overcharged the bureau by about $16 million between Jan. 1, 2015, and Oct. 27, 2018. Ohio ended its contract with the company in October 2018 and now contracts with a different company.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, OptumRx charged the bureau more than 200% above the upper limit and more than 300% above the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost for Celecoxib 200 mg capsule, according to the lawsuit.

According to the news release, the attorney general’s office filled these additional charges after months of unsuccessful discussions. The lawsuit was filed in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court.