PLG CLASS ACTION DIRECTORY
Arkansas Pharmacy Reimbursement Lawsuit
Pharmacies File Lawsuit Against Express Scripts Over Alleged Prescription Underpayments
Twelve independent Arkansas pharmacies have filed a lawsuit against Express Scripts, Inc., alleging that the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) repeatedly reimbursed them below minimum amounts required under Arkansas law. The case, Achor Family Pharmacy, LLC, et al. v. Express Scripts, Inc., was filed September 15, 2026, in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri.
Overview
The lawsuit comes amid increased scrutiny of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their impact on independent pharmacies in Arkansas. PBMs serve as intermediaries in the prescription drug system, helping administer pharmacy benefits and determine how pharmacies are reimbursed for medications.
Arkansas has adopted a series of laws aimed at regulating PBM practices and protecting pharmacies from below-cost reimbursements. The current case focuses on whether Express Scripts’ reimbursement practices complied with those state protections.
Allegations
According to the complaint, the Arkansas pharmacies allege that Express Scripts:
- Reimbursed pharmacies below Arkansas’s NADAC-based payment floor across thousands of prescription claims.
- Repeatedly underpaid independent pharmacies, rather than making isolated reimbursement errors.
- Had the data needed to apply Arkansas reimbursement requirements but failed to do so consistently.
- Processed claims through systems that produced reimbursements below required minimums.
- Caused financial losses for pharmacies when payments fell below applicable drug acquisition costs.
Questions About Pharmacy Reimbursement?
If you own or operate an independent pharmacy in Arkansas and have questions about PBM reimbursement practices or payments that may have fallen below applicable requirements, complete the form below to share your information. A member of Poynter Law Group’s legal team will review your submission and follow up with additional information.
What Went Wrong?
Independent pharmacies purchase and stock medications before receiving reimbursement for the prescriptions they fill. When reimbursement falls below the cost of acquiring a medication, the pharmacy may be left to absorb the difference.
While a shortfall on a single prescription may be relatively small, repeated underpayments across thousands of transactions can create significant financial pressure. These losses can affect a pharmacy’s ability to maintain inventory, staff its locations, and provide services to patients—particularly in rural communities where independent pharmacies may play an important role in access to care.
The lawsuit asks the court to determine whether the reimbursement practices at issue violated Arkansas law.
How Poynter Law Group Can Help
Poynter Law Group represents independent Arkansas pharmacies in this ongoing litigation and is helping pursue claims involving alleged violations of the state’s pharmacy reimbursement laws. As an Arkansas-based firm, Poynter Law Group brings knowledge of the state’s PBM regulations and the legal protections available to pharmacies.
The firm continues to work with Arkansas pharmacy owners on issues involving PBM reimbursement practices and compliance with state law. Pharmacy owners with questions about these issues or how Arkansas reimbursement requirements may apply to their circumstances can contact Poynter Law Group for additional information.
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