Missouri AG orders pharmaceutical company to stop unlawful prescription pricing conditions
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is warning a major pharmaceutical company that it can no longer bully the state’s hospitals.
Hanaway issued a cease-and-desist letter Monday to Eli Lilly and Company. In it, Hanaway directed the pharmaceutical company to stop imposing unlawful conditions on Missouri hospitals that are participating in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program.
“Big Pharma does not get to bully Missouri hospitals or hold prescription drug prices hostage,” said Hanaway. “Eli Lilly is abusing its market power to impose higher prescription prices in Missouri. These tactics fall hardest on rural communities that depend on the 340B program to keep clinics open and ensure patients receive the care they need.”
Hanaway cited a new policy instituted in 2026 by the company requiring 340B hospitals to submit detailed claims data for every dispensation of any Lilly product, regardless of setting. When the University of Missouri Health Care refused to comply, Hanaway claims Eli Lilly cut the system off from 340B pricing in early July.
To avoid further harm to patients, MU Health Care then agreed to temporarily provide Lilly with the demanded data. Hanaway said as a result, MU Health Care “now bears the heavy and unnecessary cost of complying with a policy that violates both federal intent and Missouri law.”
KCTV has reached out to Eli Lilly and Company for comment. We will update this story when a response is received.
Hanaway’s office is requesting for Missourians who believe they’ve been impacted by unfair pharmaceutical prices to file a complaint at ago.mo.gov.
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