The Hill News

The Federal Trade Commission will soon make its final decision on the $29.1-billion merger of two of the largest pharmacy benefit managers in the country. While concerns have been expressed about this specific merger, particularly its impact on mail order and specialty pharmacies, the debate raises much broader concerns about jobs, the economy, protecting small businesses, and ensuring that our loved ones have the best possible access to high quality health care.

Our nation continues to struggle through one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression. Unemployment (8.3 percent in February) has now been above 8 percent for 37 consecutive months. A recent report from the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 23.5 million people were either unemployed or underemployed. Turning the economy around and reversing the course of chronically high unemployment demands stronger solutions to allow small businesses to grow and thrive.

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