12/6/2011 10:42 AM 

Consumers Union and NACDS are among those quoted in a New York Times article published on the day of a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the proposed Express Scripts and Medco merger.  "Our concern is that a mega PBM would have tremendous power and control over what prescription drugs Americans can get, where they get them, and how much the drugs cost," said Don Bell, senior vice president and general counsel for NACDS.

DeAnn Friedholm, director for health care reform at Consumers Union, noted concerns about reductions in choice resulting from the merger, particularly the potential for increased requirements that consumers use mail order for their prescription drugs.  "We like the idea of having good choices for consumers that meet their needs, not just the need of these huge PBMs," she said.