June 14, 2021
Centene says it has set aside $1.1 billion to cover settlements from similar lawsuits in other states.
Shares of Centene were lower on Monday after the healthcare insurer agreed to pay settlements to Ohio and Mississippi over claims that it inflated pharmacy costs.
Centene, the country’s largest seller of Medicaid health plans, will pay $88 million to Ohio and $55 million to Mississippi in restitution. The company denies liability for the practices for which it is settling.
Medicaid provides health coverage to eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid is administered by the states and funded jointly by the states and the federal government.
The company also said it reserved $1.1 billion to resolve similar claims in other states.
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A number of state attorneys general have brought litigation against the company related to the Envolve Pharmacy Solutions pharmacy-benefits subsidiary.
In March, Ohio sued, alleging the company’s Ohio subsidiary used a network of pharmacy benefits subcontractors to misrepresent pharmacy costs, leading to millions of dollars of overpayments by the Ohio Department of Medicaid.
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