ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Dec. 19, 2023) – The National Community Pharmacists Association applauded new Merger Guidelines released yesterday by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice. The goal of the updated guidelines is to ensure fair and open competition in the modern economy, according to the agencies.
Last year, NCPA urged the agencies to amend the guidelines to bring health care consolidation into focus and also include quality, choice, and lower costs for consumers. “Over the last 40 years, the accommodating policy toward mergers found in the current structure and application of the guidelines has resulted in a substantial lessening of competition throughout the economy,” wrote NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist, MBA, as part of NCPA’s recommendations. “Even the simple step of more faithfully applying the guidelines as currently written would have a positive impact.”
“Vertical mergers between giant insurance plans, giant corporate pharmacies, and giant pharmacy benefit managers have resulted in higher prices and fewer choices for consumers,” Hoey said today. “The landscape is now dominated by a handful of super-predators that use their size and market share to squeeze out small, independent pharmacies. We are pleased that the FTC and DOJ has been receptive to our concerns, and we believe these guidelines address many of them.”
For more information about NCPA, please visit www.ncpa.org.
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Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing over 19,400 pharmacies that employ more than 230,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are rooted in the communities where they are located and are among America’s most accessible health care providers. To learn more, visit www.ncpa.org.
