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Shopko’s Bettiga Speaks Out Against Merger

WASHINGTON – Mike Bettiga, chief operating officer of Shopko Stores, Green Bay, Wis., testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights on the proposed mega-merger of Express Scripts and Medco Tuesday.

Bettiga, a member of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, which opposes the merger, stressed that it would negatively impact patients by limiting or completely removing choice in how they receive their pharmacy services, as well as restrict patient access to services offered by highly trained community pharmacists who provide education on medications and recommend lower-cost alternatives.

"More consumers would be forced into using the PBMs’ own mail-order facilities. They will see decreased or limited access to essential pharmacy services,” Bettiga said. “Reducing patient choice and access will lead to higher prescription drug costs, potential adverse patient outcomes, and higher downstream health care costs.”

Bettiga said nearly 135 million Americans would be forced to rely on the proposed mega-PBM for their prescription drug benefits, with this one company controlling more than 40% of overall prescription volume, and an even higher share of the market for large employers and health plans, thereby putting a stranglehold on America’s medicines.

The Senate panel also heard remarks from Express Scripts’ and Medco’s executives, who continue to stress the importance of community pharmacy during congressional testimony.

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