The Hill News

Recently, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet began hearings that will play a significant role in deciding the fate of Express Script's proposed acquisition of Medco Health Solutions.  The outcome is tremendously important - especially to lower-income and minority communities across the country.  These communities are already at a significant disadvantage when it comes to having access to equal and affordable healthcare.  An approved merger could make things a lot harder for a sector of Americans already struggling just to make ends meet.  I hope that the subcommittee members will carefully consider this, and all of the potentially negative effects of an approved merger, before making their decision.

Most Americans today are feeling the effects of our troubled economy in some way or another.  This is especially true for the underserved communities that were struggling just to keep up even when our economy! was doing well.  Education, housing, healthcare and jobs are just a few of the areas where underserved Americans have historically lagged behind.  Our economic downturn has only exacerbated these disparities.

For instance, according to the Department of Labor, African American unemployment reached 16.7 percent last month - the highest level since 1984.   Similarly, communities that are traditionally less likely to own their own home are even more likely to have lost their homes as a result of the recession.  And finally, the number of Americans without health insurance grew to 49.9 million last year - this number includes a disproportionate number of lower-income and minority Americans.

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