UnitedHealth's OptumRx Settles Opioid Prescription Claims for $20M
Portfolio Pulse from Vandana Singh
UnitedHealth's OptumRx has agreed to a $20 million settlement over claims of improperly filling opioid prescriptions. This is the first settlement of its kind involving a pharmacy benefit manager. The DEA's investigation revealed that OptumRx's California mail-order pharmacy filled opioid prescriptions alongside other drugs, raising red flags for potential illicit trafficking. The broader opioid crisis litigation has resulted in nearly $50 billion in settlements.

June 28, 2024 | 12:16 pm
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UnitedHealth's OptumRx has settled claims of improperly filling opioid prescriptions for $20 million. This marks the first settlement involving a pharmacy benefit manager over such claims. The DEA's investigation highlighted significant regulatory issues.
The $20 million settlement and the DEA's findings of improper practices are likely to negatively impact UnitedHealth's stock in the short term due to regulatory and legal concerns. However, the impact may be mitigated by the relatively small size of the settlement compared to UnitedHealth's overall financials.
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