NCPA ‘disappointed’ in decision to allow mega deal
By HME News Staff
Updated 10:14 AM CDT, Tue September 20, 2022
WASHINGTON – The National Community Pharmacists Association said it was “deeply disappointed” that UnitedHealth's $13.8 billion bid for Change Healthcare would be allowed to move forward. “We would like to thank the Department of Justice for meeting with us, listening to our concerns, and fighting to block two dominant companies from becoming even more dominant,” said B. Douglas Hoey, CEO. “We are deeply disappointed in Judge Carl Nichols’ decision, which we believe will ultimately lead to less competition and consumer harm in the form of patient steering, less access, and higher costs.” Nichols on Sept. 19 refused to block the deal, rejecting a DOJ challenge alleging the deal creates a monopoly for key insurance claims-processing technology and gives UnitedHealthcare too much data from rival insurers. “With its insurance business, its pharmacy benefit manager business, and its mail-order pharmacy business, UnitedHealthcare is already a three-headed dragon and one of the worst actors in the market,” said Hoey. "The acquisition of the Change Healthcare will give it a massive advantage over its competitors, and it will create an irresistible incentive for the insurance company to use patient data to steer business to its own pharmacy, and away from local, small-business pharmacies.”
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