Centene Pharmacy Benefits Unit Recoups Washington Business Taxes

A Centene Corp. subsidiary is exempt from Washington business and occupation taxes because its pharmacy benefits services are “functionally related” to the insurance business, a state court of appeals ruled.

Envolve Pharmacy Solutions Inc. provided pharmacy services for another Centene subsidiary, Coordinated Care Corp., under a contract with the Washington State Health Care Authority to provide health insurance services. Envolve processed claims filed by other pharmacies for services and drugs provided to plan enrollees, but it didn’t provide pharmacy services directly to enrollees.

Envolve argued it was entitled to a $73,263 refund for business and occupation ...