Judge Pauses Arkansas Law Banning PBMs’ Pharmacy Ownership (1)

A federal judge blocked Arkansas from enforcing a first-of-its kind law prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies while litigation over the statute continues.

The Cigna Group’s Express Scripts and UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s Optum Rx, two of the top companies managing prescription drug benefits, showed they are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that the Arkansas law, Act 624, violates the US Constitution’s commerce clause by discriminating against competition from out-of-state pharmacies, Judge Brian S. Miller of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas said in a written order issued Monday.

The ...