Express Scripts Appoints Barbara Hill President; Extensive Healthcare, Insurance Background Complements Senior Leadership.

Business Editors, Health & Medical Writers

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2002

Express Scripts, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESRX) announced today that it has named Barbara Hill, to fill the position of president, effective immediately. Hill will report to chairman and CEO, Barrett Toan. Most recently, Hill served as senior Vice President, Operations for CIGNA Healthcare. Previously, Hill served on Express Scripts' Board of Directors from 2000 to 2001.

"The company's board and our senior leadership are extremely pleased to welcome Barbara to the company," said Barrett Toan, chairman and CEO of Express Scripts. "Her extensive background in healthcare and insurance, combined with her previous board experience, makes this appointment very strategic to all of Express Scripts' constituents. I look forward to working closely with Barbara as she assumes her leadership role with the company."

Hill comes to Express Scripts as a seasoned healthcare executive. Prior to CIGNA Healthcare, Hill served in a number of senior leadership roles in the insurance and managed care industry. These positions include president and CEO of Rush Prudential; president, Aetna Health Plans, Midwest; vice president, Healthcare Policy, Prudential Insurance; president, Prudential Health Care Plan, Mid-Atlantic; and president and CEO of Johns Hopkins Health Plan. Hill holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University.

"Barbara's role as president comes at a significant time in our history," Toan continued. "With the acquisitions of NPA and Phoenix - our new drug sampling company - her expertise combined with that of our senior staff, will be invaluable as we work together on the company's continued growth within the PBM industry and in other markets."

In addition to being a leading specialty distribution service provider, Express Scripts also maintains major healthcare operations in Canada through ESI Canada, its Canadian subsidiary.

"We are entering a significant era regarding our nation's healthcare - with issues related to cost of care and services, to affordable access to medications, to healthcare legislation at the federal and state level," said Hill. "Express Scripts has been a recognized thought leader and innovator and the company will continue to play an ever-increasing and important role for everyone involved in the pharmacy benefit delivery process. I'm excited to join Express Scripts accomplished team as we work together to continue to grow the company for the benefit of its constituents."

Express Scripts, Inc. is one of the largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies in North America. Express Scripts serves thousands of client groups, including managed care organizations, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, employers and union-sponsored benefit plans. Express Scripts provides integrated PBM services, including network pharmacy claims processing, mail pharmacy services, benefit design consultation, drug utilization review, formulary management, disease management, medical and drug data analysis services, medical information management services and informed decision counseling services through its Express Health Line(SM) division. The company also provides distribution services for specialty pharmaceuticals through its Specialty Distribution subsidiary. Express Scripts is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. More information can be found at http://www.express-scripts.com, which includes expanded investor information and resources.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to the company's plans, objectives, expectations (financial and otherwise) or intentions. Actual results may differ significantly from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements. Factors that may impact these forward-looking statements include but are not limited to:

-- risks associated with our acquisitions of Phoenix and NPA, including
integration risks and costs, risks of client retention, and risks associated
with the operations of acquired businesses

-- risks associated with our ability to maintain internal growth rates, or to
control operating or capital costs

-- continued pressure on margins resulting from client demands for enhanced
service offerings and higher service levels, and the possible termination of,
or unfavorable modification to, contracts with key clients or providers

-- competition, including price competition, and our ability to consummate
contract negotiations with prospective clients, as well as competition from new
competitors offering services that may in whole or in part replace services
that we now provide to our customers

-- adverse results in regulatory matters, the adoption of new legislation or
regulations (including increased costs associated with compliance with new laws
and regulations, such as privacy regulations under the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)), more aggressive enforcement of
existing legislation or regulations, or a change in the interpretation of
existing legislation or regulations

-- the possible loss of relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, or
changes in pricing, discount or other practices of pharmaceutical manufacturers


-- adverse results in litigation, including a pending case challenging Express
Scripts' business practices under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
(ERISA)

-- risks associated with our leverage and debt service obligations, including
the effect of certain covenants in our borrowing agreements

-- risks associated with our ability to continue to develop new products,
services and delivery channels

-- general developments in the health care industry, including the impact of
increases in health care costs, changes in drug utilization and cost patterns
and introductions of new drugs

-- uncertainties regarding the implementation and the ultimate terms of
proposed government initiatives, including a Medicare prescription drug benefit


-- increase in credit risk relative to our clients due to adverse economic
trends

-- other risks described from time to time in our filings with The Securities
and Exchange Commission

We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.