12/7/2011 5:05 PM 

The Minnesota Pharmacists Association (MPhA) has formally announced its opposition to the proposed Express Scripts and Medco merger. 

“This merger is bad news for patients who have built trusting relationships with their neighborhood pharmacies,” said Julie K. Johnson, Pharm.D., MPhA executive vice president.

“If the merger is approved between these two pharmacy benefit managers, the new company will have overwhelming market power and could ultimately force neighborhood pharmacies — both independent and chain stores — out of business by forcing patients to use mail order pharmacies.”