Pfizer Loses Suit Against Texas Agency Over Sharing Medicaid Data With Lawmakers

A Texas judge ruled state legislators are entitled to see details of Pfizer’s Medicaid pricing practices, denying a legal challenge by the drugmaker. 

The state’s Health and Human Services Commission provided details about Pfizer’s negotiated drug pricing rates in the state’s Medicaid program to two lawmakers in 2016 to help them draft budget proposals. In its complaint, Pfizer said the agency violated confidentiality agreements.

The commission argued its disclosure was not subject to Medicaid’s confidentiality provisions, but was instead covered by an exception that allows it to disclose manufacturer information. Pfizer interpreted the exception narrowly and argued only the commission could implement the Medicaid program, so only the commission should be granted access to the data.