OptumRx, a pharmacy benefit manager unit of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), has reportedly agreed to a $20 million settlement following U.S. government claims that it improperly filled certain opioid prescriptions. The settlement marks the first instance of the government reaching an agreement with a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) over alleged illicit opioid prescriptions. Also Read: UnitedHealth’s OptumRx Unveils New Transparent Drug Pricing Initiative for 2024. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated OptumRx’s practices, revealing that a California mail-order pharmacy operated by OptumRx had filled opioid prescriptions in conjunction with other drugs, such as benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants, between 2013 and 2015. These combination ...