Kentucky attorney general targets OptumRx in opioid crisis lawsuit
- Kentucky attorney general Russell Coleman added OptumRx to an existing lawsuit targeting pharmacy benefit managers.
- The lawsuit alleges that OptumRx and Express Scripts engaged in deceptive marketing and contributed to the opioid crisis.
- Kentucky continues to grapple with the consequences of the opioid epidemic, despite a slight decline in overdose deaths.
In Kentucky, the opioid crisis has devastated families and communities, leading to some of the highest overdose death rates in the nation. In response, Kentucky's attorney general Russell Coleman has broadened a lawsuit originally filed against Express Scripts to include OptumRx, accusing both pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) of contributing to the state’s addiction epidemic. The legal action began in September 2024, targeting deceptive marketing practices that allegedly inflated opioid sales and violations surrounding mail-order distributions lacking proper controls. Coleman’s claims assert that these corporations prioritized profits over public health, resulting in significant harm to Kentucky families. This litigation is part of a broader trend where government entities seek accountability from various participants in the opioid supply chain as overdose deaths remain a critical public health issue. In 2023, overdose deaths in Kentucky reportedly fell nearly 10%, providing a glimmer of hope, yet state officials maintain that the fight against addiction is far from over, with nearly 2,000 fatalities recorded last year alone.