Pharmacy Groups Dispute Express Scripts-Medco Merger
The Independent Specialty Pharmacy Coalition has called on the Federal Trade Commission to reject a proposed merger between Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions because of possible conflicts of interest and increased drug costs. Last month, Express Scripts and Medco announced that they would merge in a deal worth about $29.1 billion, pending approval from regulators and shareholders. The Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute and the National Community Pharmacists Association also have publicly opposed the merger, citing concerns that the two pharmacy benefit management companies could "unfairly dominate the market." The deal is expected to close in the first six months of 2012.
- "Coalition Opposes Express Scripts-Medco Deal" (Carlson, Modern Healthcare, 8/1).