Medco Health Solutions Awarded Full Patient Oriented Accreditation for Diabetes Health Management Program by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2003

Program Finds Education Improves Patient Self Management and

Compliance Saving Millions in Diabetes-related Healthcare Costs

Medco Health Solutions, Inc., the nation's leading pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), announced today its Positive Approaches(TM) Diabetes Health Management program has been awarded Full Patient Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Positive Approaches' diabetes management program is one of the largest offered by a PBM with over 500,000 enrolled members. After thorough review, Medco Health achieved a score of 100 percent in all accreditation categories including program content, patient service, clinical systems, measurement and quality improvement and program operations. The NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality.

"Accreditation by a prestigious organization such as the NCQA serves to further validate that our premier diabetes management program provides members with the resources necessary to help them better manage their medical condition for improved healthcare outcomes," said Mary-Ann Somers, vice president Health Management, Product Management, Medco Health. "We will be seeking accreditation for several of our other disease management programs that also provided positive results for patients."

The Positive Approaches diabetes program focuses on optimizing medication and treatment plan compliance, encouraging glucose control and reducing long-term complications. Measurable results, the benchmark of success for any health management program, are an integral part of Medco Health's Positive Approaches. The Positive Approaches diabetes program has demonstrated significant outcomes among enrolled patients that include:

-- Over a 97% satisfaction rate

-- Up to a 8% increase in patient compliance with their medication

-- A 50% reduction in the median time for patients to refill their diabetes medication

-- Up to a 9% increase in patient refills of diabetes medication

-- An 18% increase in patient awareness of the A1c (glycated hemoglobin)

-- A 10% increase in the number of newly diagnosed members who check their blood for glucose

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes treatment costs are estimated at $98 billion annually, with a cost per patient of $10,071. Participation in Positive Approaches' diabetes program has proven to substantially reduce healthcare costs to the health plan while enhancing the quality of care to the patient. Specifically, a review of diabetes-related costs of 573 participants in the Positive Approaches diabetes program illustrated a one-year medical savings of more than $500,000, or an average savings of $730 per program participant.

"The data clearly substantiates that helping patients actively manage their condition not only improves the health of the patient, but also reduces additional healthcare costs, providing significant savings for both our clients and their members," said Somers.

Approaching Diabetes Positively Through Education

Medco Health's Positive Approaches diabetes management program consists of two distinct components - one focused on self-management skills and treatment plan compliance through patient interventions, the other on therapy optimization through physician interventions.

The program stresses patient education, self-management tools and compliance with prescribed treatment. Specially trained pharmacists at the Positive Approaches Call Centers are available to discuss a patient's condition, symptoms or complications and offer counsel on lifestyle modifications. In addition, these pharmacists monitor compliance with the treatment prescribed by the patient's physician. Patients also receive personalized educational materials designed to empower the patient and encourage self-care.

To help physicians recognize compliance issues among their patients, Medco Health provides physicians with patient specific educational materials complete with updated standards of care or copies of the same educational materials sent to patients. Medco Health communicates with the patient's physician to discuss current therapy and compliance. Through open dialogue, Positive Approaches clinicians work with the physician to evaluate a potential change in therapy to encourage compliance. In measuring how the physician intervention impacted physician prescribing, the program resulted in up to a 27 % increase in prescribing of drug usage in accordance with best medical practice guidelines.

Managing Health Through Health Management

With nearly one in four Americans having a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma, or cardiovascular disease, Medco Health is committed to effectively improving the quality of life and health of these patients through the company's proprietary health management programs.

Since 1992, the company has developed these programs with the clear understanding of the natural course of a disease in a population and the effect of interventions at critical points within an illness. Medco Health's Health Management programs offer a comprehensive range of innovative products and programs in key therapeutic areas that drive over 70 percent of healthcare dollars. By focusing on patients with these chronic illnesses, the company's health management programs can help to educate patients, improve self-management and quality of life, while contributing to an overall decrease in health care spending for health plan sponsors.

About Medco Health

Medco Health Solutions, Inc., is the nation's leading provider of prescription healthcare services, based on the $33 billion in drug spend the company managed for its clients in 2002. Formerly known as Merck-Medco, Medco Health is a wholly owned and independently managed subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK), and assists its clients to moderate the cost and enhance the quality of prescription drug benefits provided to 64 million Americans nationwide.