Supreme Court Allows Maine Pharmacy Benefits Law To Stand

June 5, 2006

Attorney General Steve Rowe offered the following statement on the news that the United States Supreme Court today rejected a request by the pharmacy benefits management industry asking that the Court consider the constitutionality of a Maine law aimed at providing transparency and eliminating kickbacks in the lucrative but mysterious pharmacy benefits management business.

Rowe said, "The U.S. Supreme Court has finally slammed the door to legal arguments by the drug industry and the insurance industry against Maine's innovative PBM law. Today's denial of the writ of certiorari means greater transparency in the prescription drug business, and the end of secret kickbacks for PBMs. The result should be lower drug prices for Maine health plans and Maine workers."

Rowe praised the legislature for enacting the law and thanked Deputy Attorney General Paul Stern, Assistant Attorneys General Ronald Lupton and Andrew Black, and Research Assistant Alice Sproul for their exceptional defense of the statute.

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Charles Dow, Director, Communications & Legislative Affairs, 207-626-8577