Washington, D.C. — The Preserve Community Pharmacy Access NOW! (PCPAN) coalition today thanked Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03) for conveying constituent concerns about the proposed merger between Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) and Medco Health Solutions, two pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies. In a letter sent to the Federal Trade Commission(FTC), Duncan expressed concerns that the merger could result in less access to health care combined with higher prices for consumers. Davis asked the FTC to "give this merger all of the due diligence that an issue this important and serious to public health and our communities deserve."

"Pharmacists in my district have personally expressed to me their concern that the market control this new company could exert could force consumers into using mail order companies rather than keep a level playing field between mail order companies and local pharmacies," the letter states. "Forcing consumers to mail order companies would disrupt the relationships many of these folks have with their local pharmacists, to the detriment of public health. Resulting pharmacy closures and related job losses would also prove harmful to local economies."

PBMs are the largely unregulated drug middlemen that manage prescription drug benefit programs for employers, unions, health plans and others. Today, PBMs control the drug benefits of more than 200 million patients nationwide. This number includes a diverse group of Americans such as Medicare Part D beneficiaries, servicemen and veterans who are TRICARE beneficiaries, and more.

Last July, the two PBMs announced a $29 billion merger agreement that could take effect as soon as early 2012. An approved merger would combine two of the nation's three largest PBMs, giving the consolidated mega-PBM the unfettered ability to increase prices and reduce access to pharmacy services. Elected officials including attorneys general in dozens of states, pharmacy service providers, consumer advocates, patient advocates and others have expressed concerns that approving this merger would result in increased costs for lesser quality health care. This is of particular concern for America's lower-income, minority, rural and senior communities

"People in South Carolina and across the country are expressing concerns about this merger and its impact, and I am pleased that Congressman Duncan is making sure their voices are heard," said former Congresswoman Eva M. Clayton, chairwoman of the Preserve Community Pharmacy Access NOW! (PCPAN) coalition. "The potential harm posed by this merger is nationwide, and I hope that concerns like these are considered and the merger is stopped."

The merger has been investigated by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet and the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. The FTC will soon determine whether or not the deal will move forward.

About

Preserve Community Pharmacy Access NOW! is a coalition of consumers, businesses and community-based pharmacists from across the country that have come together for the purpose of opposing the planned merger between Express Scripts Inc. and Medco Health Solutions Inc. PCPAN is a project of Pharmacy Choice and Access Now.