4/19/2012 10:14 AM 

The Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League, National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices and U.S. PIRG filed an amicus brief to urge the court to stop the merger of Express Scripts and Medco pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) companies. 

The brief cites that the merger will harm consumers through increased costs and reduced choice and access to retail community pharmacies, as well as access challenges for vulnerable patients who rely on specialty pharmacy drugs. 

“The loss of competition resulting from Express Scripts’ acquisition of Medco has the likelihood of substantially harming millions of consumers through increased prescription drug prices, and decreased choice and access to critical services provided by community and specialty pharmacies,” the groups stated in the brief.  “Consumers will be force into PBM owned mail-order operations and experience increasing healthcare costs through increasing PBM fees to plan sponsors.  The savings that Express Scripts purports to acquire will not likely be passed on to consumers.”

The consumer groups’ brief was filed in support of the lawsuit filed by NACDS, National Community Pharmacy Association and community pharmacy plaintiffs.