1/20/2012 8:53 AM 

The ranking Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee has urged that panel's chairman to call a hearing on the proposed Express Scripts and Medco mega-merger.  Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) wrote to Subcommittee Chairman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), "Given the enormity of the proposed merger and its potential to threaten fair and adequate access to health care and pharmacy services for all Americans, our Subcommittee should carefully examine its true impact on consumers.  For example, we should explore the claims that this merger will be able to generate savings for consumers.”

Skepticism has remained steady and strong regarding these pharmacy benefit managers' (PBM) claim that a merger would result in healthcare cost savings.  National consumer groups, other members of Congress, antitrust watchdogs and others have emphasized time and again that the facts do not support claims of cost savings, but rather that any cost savings fuel the PBMs' profitability.

Rep. Butterfield previously wrote to the Federal Trade Commission, expressing concern about the proposed merger and sounding the alarm on the PBMs' claim of cost-savings.

Already, House and Senate panels have scrutinized the deal in hearings, and elected officials at the federal, state and local levels continue to announce and express their opposition to the proposed merger.