‘They inflated the sticker price of a medicine people cannot live without and left Florida patients to pay it.’
The post James Uthmeier sues insulin makers to stop inflated prices for Florida patients appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
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Attorney General James Uthmeier says the state is suing three manufacturers of insulin, accusing them of inflating prices and pocketing profits while Florida patients pay the cost.
Uthmeier announced this week he’s filing the legal action against Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi. The companies account for making 90% of the world’s insulin supply. Uthmeier is also suing three pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that process most U.S. prescriptions, including CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx.
“These companies told Florida families they were working to make insulin affordable,” Uthmeier said. “Instead, they inflated the sticker price of a medicine people cannot live without and left Florida patients to pay it. My office is holding them accountable.”
The lawsuit, filed in the 11th Judicial Circuit in South Florida, accuses the companies of inflating prices for insulin and other drugs used to treat diabetes. The legal action is based on two counts that claim the companies violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Another count alleges violations of the Florida Antitrust Act.
The lawsuit says “the companies inflated published list prices for insulin and related diabetes drugs and paid rebates and fees to the PBMs in exchange for preferred formulary placement, so that both sides profited when the sticker price rose.”
Uthmeier’s lawsuit drew praise from Dover Republican Rep. Danny Alvarez, who said the companies were preying on vulnerable diabetics in Florida.
“Florida families deserve to be treated fairly, especially our most vulnerable residents. When companies take advantage of the people who can least afford it, there must be consequences and that’s what this lawsuit will help figure out,” Alvarez said.
“I’m grateful to Attorney General Uthmeier for standing up for Floridians and making sure all wrongdoing is held to account, and they answer for the harm they may have caused.”
The lawsuit also includes pharmaceutical “rebate aggregators” Zinc, Ascent and Emisar. The filing also raises concerns over prescriptions for diabetic medications called “GLP-1,” a category of drugs known for weight loss, including Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza and Soliqua.
Uthmeier is asking for the court to order an injunction to block the practices, restitution for patients, damages, civil penalties and other relief.
The post James Uthmeier sues insulin makers to stop inflated prices for Florida patients appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
