James M. Burns

With extensive experience handling healthcare antitrust matters, Jim Burns litigates antitrust and related claims in trial and appellate courts across the nation. He also represents clients, including numerous healthcare providers, insurers, and healthcare systems, before the Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission on a wide variety of antitrust matters, including mergers and governmental investigations. He has authored numerous articles on various healthcare antitrust matters, and regularly speaks at professional and industry seminars.

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New Jersey Congressman Calls for a Hearing on the Proposed Cigna/Express Scripts Merger

Recently, Cigna announced its plan to purchase pharmacy benefit manager (“PBM”) Express Scripts. In a March 14, 2018 letter to the chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Gregory Walden (R-Oregon), Congressman Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) called for a hearing on the proposed merger. In the letter, Congressman Pallone notes that the combination would combine the nation’s largest … Continue Reading

Cigna Announces Proposed Acquisition of Express Scripts, Quickening the Pace of Vertical Mergers in the Healthcare Industry

By James M. Burns on March 8, 2018 Posted in Antitrust, Health Insurers & Managed Care Organizations, Healthcare Law, Healthcare M&A, Joint Ventures, Transactions & Health Ventures

Late last year, CVS and Aetna announced a merger, combining one of the nation’s largest health insurance companies and a large pharmacy benefits management company (a “PBM”), that being CVS’ Caremark division. The trend continues, as on March 8, Cigna announced its intention to acquire Express Scripts, another PBM, in a deal reportedly valued at $67 billion. Both transactions, if … Continue Reading

House Judiciary Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Proposed CVS/Aetna Merger

By James M. Burns on March 6, 2018 Posted in Antitrust

On February 27, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law held a hearing to consider the implications of the proposed CVS/Aetna merger. The transaction, valued at approximately $69 billion, was announced in December and is currently under regulatory review by the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division and antitrust and insurance regulators in a number … Continue Reading