Pharmacy

Federal regulators have filed an administrative complaint against the St. Louis-based pharmacy benefit manager. Patients and pharmacists say the suit could lead to a change in business practices and more affordable drugs.

Organizers of a protest planned for Friday say the pharmacy benefits manager steers patients to its own pharmacies and drives up prescription prices for consumers.

Since the early 2000s, health care systems have used technology originally made for law enforcement to combat misuse of prescription meds — yet the opioid epidemic continues to worsen.

Missouri's prescription drug monitoring database went online this week. Health workers will now need to enter patient information into a statewide database when they dispense opioids and other controlled substances.

The health insurance company Elevance, known as Anthem in Missouri, is hiring 250 new employees to work at its downtown St. Louis office. City leaders celebrated the news, which comes as other high-profile tenants are leaving the city's core.

The federal goverment has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines that protect people against getting dangerously sick. But the shots are being distributed through commercial means for the first time, and patients have reported canceled appointments and insurance denials.

Originally scheduled to be ready this year, the $105 million project was pushed back to 2025 after the pandemic slowed its progress, according to SIU System President Dan Mahoney.

Centene Corp. has agreed to pay Texas $165.6 million to resolve claims that it overcharged the state’s Medicaid program — the biggest known payout by the nation’s largest Medicaid insurer over its drug pricing practices.

Under the newly signed Missouri bill, “lawfully” dispensing or prescribing ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine cannot be the basis for disciplinary action.

Telling patients about dangers related to certain medications would be forbidden if Gov. Mike Parson signs H.B. 2149 into law. A state board would also be barred from taking action against physicians who prescribe them.