Change to Win: FTC Should Investigate CVS Caremark Merger

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Change to Win chair and SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger issued the
following statement regarding a meeting today with Federal Trade Commission
Chairman Jon Leibowitz.

"Today we asked the FTC to open a full-scale investigation of CVS Caremark`s
practices and re-examine the company`s 2007 merger. The merger of the largest
retail pharmacy (CVS) and the second-largest PBM (Caremark) has created the
nation`s largest provider of prescription services-and serious risks for
consumers and health plans. The merged entity presents potential risks in such
vital areas as patient privacy, value to health plans, conflicts of interest,
and quality of service.

CVS Caremark now has access to patient prescription information on an
unprecedented scale-handling almost 1 in 3 of all patient prescriptions in the
country.

Change to Win represents workers in CVS Caremark plans that cover more than 10
million people. On behalf of these health plan members, Change to Win is greatly
concerned that CVS Caremark could be exploiting its access to a massive amount
of private patient information without meaningful consent or knowledge by plan
participants.

We delivered to Chairman Leibowitz letters of concern about the merger from
health plans and purchasing coalitions that cover more than two million
individuals. These frontline payers for health care see the dangers of a
pharmacy giant controlling the drug costs and data for their members.

I appreciate the FTC`s consideration of our concerns, and Change to Win will
continue to sound the alarm about CVS Caremark to safeguard the health and
privacy of millions of health care consumers across the nation."

www.AlarmedAboutCVSCaremark.org

Alarmed About CVS Caremark is a Change to Win initiative to educate consumers,
health plan managers and trustees about the newly merged CVS Caremark, now the
country's second largest pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) and largest retail
pharmacy chain. Our report, An Alarming Prescription, details the troubling
patterns exhibited by both CVS and Caremark prior to their merger, and explores
the new risks presented by the merged entity CVS Caremark.

About Change to Win

Change to Win is a six million member partnership of seven unions founded in
2005 to represent workers in the industries and occupations of the 21st century
economy. Change to Win committed to restoring the American Dream for a new
generation of workers - wages that can support a family, affordable health care,
a secure retirement, and the opportunity for the future. The seven affiliated
unions are: Service Employees International Union, UNITE HERE, United Food and
Commercial Workers International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Laborers' International Union of North America, United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners of America and United Farm Workers of America.

Change to Win
Ahmer Qadeer, 917-207-8515
or
Dan O`Sullivan, 202-721-6078
dan.osullivan@changetowin.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009