Senate hearing focuses on merger of two big drug benefit managers

Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions are seeking to combine operations, but some senators have raised concerns about the effect on consumers.

The New York Times: Concerns Over Merger In Pharmacy
Express Scripts' proposed $29 billion acquisition of Medco Health Solutions is expected to face intensified scrutiny on Tuesday when a Senate panel examines potential antitrust concerns raised by the merger of two of the country's largest pharmacy benefit managers (Abelson and Singer, 12/5).

The Hill: GOP Senators Raise Concerns With Drug Benefit Merger
Three Senate Republicans have added their voices to the choir of lawmakers concerned with the proposed merger between two giant drug benefit managers. Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Jerry Morgan (R-Kansas) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) wrote to Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz urging his agency to conduct a "thorough and complete investigation, including examining any potential impact on consumers, patients, third party and federal payers" (Pecquet, 12/5).

CQ HealthBeat: Pharmacy Benefit Managers' Study Says They Save Money
Pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts Inc. and Medco Health Solutions Inc. -; which have proposed a $29 billion merger -; released a study on Monday contending that companies such as theirs save billions in prescription drug costs. The study comes the day before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the proposed acquisition of Medco by Express Scripts, which would merge two of the nation's largest pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Scheduled to appear are the CEOs of both companies, drug policy experts and a small-town pharmacist from Wisconsin (Norman, 12/5).