In the midst of nationwide opioid epidemic, HHS proposal weakening guidelines to reduce overprescribing, putting communities at risk

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson and a bipartisan coalition of 38 other attorneys general today submitted a comment letter urging the federal government to reverse course on its proposal to eliminate opioid prescribing guidelines in the midst of the opioid epidemic.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler offered the following joint statement:

Without this change, tobacco addiction will shorten the lives of 104,000 Washington kids alive today

OLYMPIA — Today, with a bipartisan vote of 33-12 in the Washington State Senate, the Washington State Legislature passed legislation to raise the sale age for tobacco and vapor products to 21.

Dentists billed for services they didn’t provide, charged for more expensive services than they provided

VANCOUVER — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that CareOne Dental Corporation and its owners will pay $1 million over allegations they repeatedly billed Medicaid for non-covered services and for services the company didn’t provide, the second-largest resolution of an in-state Medicaid False Claims Act case in Washington.

Motion for preliminary injunction asks the court to block the rule before its effective date

YAKIMA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a motion for preliminary injunction, asking a federal court to block the Trump Administration’s family planning “gag rule” before the rule goes into effect. The rule impacts Title X, the federal funding program for reproductive healthcare and family planning services.

Ferguson fears Navy will release more pollution in cleaning another ship currently slated for scrapping

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a motion to join a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Navy’s practice of scraping the hulls of decommissioned vessels in a way that releases metals and other contaminants into Sinclair Inlet. This contamination can harm marine life up and down the food chain, including salmon and orcas.

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Gov. Jay Inslee offered the following statement on potential funding sources for President Donald Trump's proposed border wall:

“We remain adamant that Washington state will not help subsidize President Trump’s unlawful and unconstitutional ‘emergency’ declaration to build his wall. We are closely monitoring developments. If a final decision is made to redirect funds from Washington projects to fund the president’s border wall, we will file a lawsuit. Our complaint is drafted and ready to file.”

First round of funds will test more than 1,000 kits

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today committed $750,000 in grant funds to test unsubmitted sexual assault kits as part of his Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI).

“Every sexual assault kit is a story that needs to be told,” Ferguson said. “Testing the kits not only honors to the courage of survivors, but also identifies serial offenders who might otherwise go free.”

Attorney General sues three Fortune 15 companies for negligently fueling opioid epidemic

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit today against the three largest distributors of prescription opioids in Washington state, arguing that they failed to alert law enforcement of suspicious opioid orders, and illegally shipped those orders into Washington for years, and contributed to the illegal supply of opioids, fueling the state’s opioid epidemic.

Dealers could face criminal charges, jeopardize license, if they break the law

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Governor Jay Inslee sent a letter to 262 firearms dealers in counties where sheriffs have indicated they will not enforce I-1639, warning that, regardless of local officials’ opposition to Initiative 1639, firearms dealers are still required to follow state law.