Are Mergers Hurting Your Patients and Your Business?

U.S. antitrust enforcers are proposing new guidelines for determining whether to approve mergers that combine companies that don’t compete with one another but operate in the same supply chain. The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission announced criteria for how they would evaluate so-called vertical mergers in the future. The guidelines would replace rules that haven’t formally been updated since 1984. NCPA will be weighing in, focusing on vertical mergers that have led to escalating healthcare costs, anticompetitive harm, decreased access to care, and public health considerations beyond cost. Please fill out this quick survey by COB ET on Friday, January 31. Also, be on the lookout for a template that NCPA members can use to submit comments too (deadline is February 11).

Please list up to three examples of how patient care was harmed by one of the mergers listed above:

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

Please list up to three examples of how patients were steered away from your pharmacy because of the anticompetitive behavior of one of the mergers listed above:

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

Please list up to three examples of how patient copays/coinsurance increased because of the anticompetitive behavior of one of the mergers listed above:

Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

If you have any documentation to substantiate the examples you provided please email Leon Michos at leon.michos@ncpanet.org. Documentation includes, but not limited to, letters to patients/pharmacies, prescription claims, etc.

The information provided in response to this survey, including supplemental attached materials, may be used by the National Community Pharmacy Association (NCPA) for purposes aligned with its mission, including but not limited to, research, advocacy, and education. NCPA will not accept information containing patient protected information as described in HIPPA and requests all information be sufficiently anonymized to protect the identity of private individuals. Information that does not comport with these requirements will be destroyed and/or returned to sender.

Demographic Information:

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Pharmacy Name

City

State

Zip

Email Address

The information provided in response to this survey, including supplemental attached materials, may be used by the National Community Pharmacy Association (NCPA) for purposes aligned with its mission, including but not limited to, research, advocacy, and education. NCPA will not accept information containing patient protected information as described in HIPPA and requests all information be sufficiently anonymized to protect the identity of private individuals. Information that does not comport with these requirements will be destroyed and/or returned to sender.