Testimony of David A. Balto

on behalf of
Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices

To the Committee on the Judiciary,
Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition
Policy and Consumer Rights
United States Senate
Regarding “The Express Scripts/Medco Merger: Cost Savings for Consumers or More Profits for the Middlemen?”
Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Introduction

          Mr. Chairman Kohl, Ranking Member Lee, and other distinguished members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity today to speak about the severe competitive problems that may arise from Express Scripts’ proposed acquisition of  Medco Health Solutions. I am testifying today on behalf of the nation’s leading consumer groups including Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices.  As detailed in my testimony, this merger of two of the three largest pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”) raises serious competitive concerns and could potentially lead to significantly higher prices and diminished service for healthcare consumers.

Testimony of David Balto on behalf of NLARx before US Senate Judiciary Committee (238 KB PDF)