By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress management for healthcare workers
    3 Tips For Healthcare Professionals: How To Stay Beautiful, Healthy, and Happy
    November 2, 2021
    importance of relaxing on the weekend for your health
    Importance of Relaxing During the Weekend for Optimal Health
    March 25, 2022
    LASIK Eye Surgery
    What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
    May 16, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
    September 10, 2025
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Heroism in Harm’s Way
    February 21, 2015
    5 Things Every Trainee GP Should Know
    August 27, 2019
    Top 5 Facts About CPPA Accreditation
    April 9, 2015
    Latest News
    Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
    September 9, 2025
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Express Scripts-Medco Merger — Antitrust?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Express Scripts-Medco Merger — Antitrust?
Business

Express Scripts-Medco Merger — Antitrust?

gooznews
gooznews
Share
2 Min Read
SHARE

If this merger doesn’t draw fire from the antitrust division of the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission, then those agencies aren’t paying attention. Express Scripts and Medco combined accounted for 1.7 billion prescriptions in 2010, worth about $110 billion in revenue. That’s about a third of the total prescription drug market.

If this merger doesn’t draw fire from the antitrust division of the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission, then those agencies aren’t paying attention. Express Scripts and Medco combined accounted for 1.7 billion prescriptions in 2010, worth about $110 billion in revenue. That’s about a third of the total prescription drug market.

The companies claim this merger will give them increased clout to negotiate better deals with drug companies. In theory, yes. But as we’ve seen many times in the past, prescription drug benefit managers spend more time squeezing pharmacies with their slim retail margins than they do calling questionable drug industry practices into question. They too often act as pass-through agents for drug company price increases, the same kind of cozy relationship that dominates every other nook of the health care field. They’ve played a somewhat constructive role in the high generic substitution rate in recent years, but as Matt Herper at Forbes points out this morning on the Forbes website, that behavior is now pretty much baked into drug plan and health plan behavior. That leaves PBMs without a function (except to add another layer of cost) unless they rigorously go after the drug companies on price and unnecessary use.

The only guarantee that PBMs will do that job is by the government insisting there be rigorous competition in the industry for drug and health plan business.

More Read

Commercial Speech Trumps Privacy When It Comes to Drug Marketing
Long Term Care Commission Report Falls Short
Small Businesses and the Not-So-Affordable Care Act
The Evolution of Medicare Telehealth Reimbursement
Culture of Disrespect in Medicine Affects Patient Safety
TAGGED:Express Scriptshealthcare businessMedcomergerpharma
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

HIMSS Analytics 3rd Annual Mobile Survey

June 24, 2014
obamacare and employers
BusinessFinanceHealth ReformPolicy & LawPublic Health

What Employers Think About Healthcare

September 20, 2013
health Facebook advertising
BusinesseHealthSocial Media

Duke Health and Facebook Advertising Case Study

March 19, 2013

Can We Use Humor to Advertise Our Hospital? Don’t Make Me Laugh.

January 8, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?