1/6/2012 3:45 PM 

Regarding the proposed merger of Express Scripts and Medco, U.S. Rep. Ralph M. Hall (R-TX) today wrote to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), saying "I urge the FTC to take a close look at this proposed merger, at which point I am confident that it will be denied."

Other notable quotes from Rep. Hall's letter include:

- "The proposed merger between these two pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) is not a sign of the free market; it is a symptom of a broken health care delivery system."

- "This scenario would allow the company to dominate the market and enable them to squeeze the health care system at the expense of patient choice, access and service."

- "Medical decisions should be made by patients and their doctors, not by middlemen...the merger between Express Scripts and Medco would further damage the health care delivery system."

- "It would threaten jobs, increase costs, and diminish patient health - the last thing our economy needs at this time."