GOP senators raise concerns with drug benefit merger

Three Senate Republicans have added their voices to the choir of lawmakers concerned with the proposed merger between two giant drug benefit managers.

Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Jerry Morgan (R-Kansas) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) wrote to Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz urging his agency to conduct a "thorough and complete investigation, including examining any potential impact on consumers, patients, third party and federal payers." 

The letter comes as the Senate Judiciary Committee prepares to hold a hearing Tuesday on the proposed merger between pharmacy benefit managers Medco Health Solutions and Express Scripts.

The FTC must vet the deal for potential antitrust violations before it can go through. The two companies say they save consumers, government and health insurers billions of dollars every year by negotiating cheaper drug prices. Critics — particularly retail pharmacies — say the merger would give the two companies too much control over people's drug benefits, potentially driving up costs and hurting access to needed medications.

"We understand that a combined entity has the potential to control 60 percent of mail order and 50 percent of the specialty market," the letter says. "With that type of market concentration, it is important that your agency works to see that access to health care is not limited."

Opposition to the proposed deal cuts across party lines. The latest letter brings to at least 23 the number of lawmakers who have raised concerns with the merger.

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