Prime Therapeutics Expands Business in Omaha; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska-Owned Pharmacy Benefit Manager Will Add Staff to Support Upcoming Medicare Part D Benefit.

OMAHA, Neb. -- Prime Therapeutics LLC (Prime) has announced another expansion of its business in Omaha with the addition of approximately 100 new employees through January 2006. The company's expansion is the result of preparation for the upcoming Medicare Part D program that goes into effect January 1, 2006. This is the second time in two years that the company has experienced substantial growth in Omaha. In 2004, Prime's Omaha office grew in preparation for new business. Currently, Prime provides pharmacy benefit management services to nine Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.

"With our ongoing growth in the Omaha area, Prime Therapeutics is positioned to provide outstanding service to Medicare beneficiaries," said Tim Dickman, President and CEO of Prime Therapeutics. "Omaha offers a strong pool of talent and this recent growth solidifies our commitment and high satisfaction with Omaha as a key location for our business."

Prime will move to a larger building to accommodate the additional staff. The new building, located at 10826 Farnam Street in Omaha, will open on November 1, 2005. It offers more than 35,000 square feet of office space, which is more than double the size of Prime's current location. Prime's phone number will not change, and there will be little disruption to the contact center during this time. To assure a smooth transition, Prime will maintain the lease at its current facility through the first quarter of 2006.

"We are pleased that Prime Therapeutics continues to expand its presence in our city. Omaha has enjoyed a great relationship with Prime's parent company Blue Cross and Blue Shield for many years, so we are doubly blessed to have both companies thriving in our community. This latest expansion is particularly significant, since Prime Therapeutics nearly doubled the size of its Omaha workforce late last year with the addition of 80 new employees," said David G. Brown, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. "We understand that passage of the Nebraska Advantage Act was a prime determinant in Prime Therapeutics' decision to expand further in Omaha. We're fortunate to have the leadership and vision of Governor Dave Heineman and our state legislature to create the Nebraska Advantage Act."

Dickman adds that Prime joined the Omaha Chamber of Commerce last year and has valued the Chamber's support during its expansion. He adds that other locations were considered, but the Chamber's support through the Nebraska Advantage Act, which provides a return on investment to companies reaching certain employment levels, was a key factor in the decision to remain and expand in the Omaha area.

After the upcoming staffing efforts, more than 275 employees will work in the Omaha office. The majority of the new positions will support pharmacy benefit administration and member service. In addition to competitive salaries, the jobs offer a wide range of benefits, including cafeteria-style medical benefits, a 401(k) plan with company match, and tuition reimbursement. Candidates interested in learning about employment opportunities at Prime are encouraged to visit the company's web site at www.primetherapeutics.com.

Prime Therapeutics currently employs nearly 1,000 employees. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Prime has offices in Omaha, Chicago and Irving, Texas.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska and Prime have a long-standing partnership, dating back to 1993 when the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska subsidiary ProPar Services, Inc., and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota subsidiary, Pharmacy Gold Inc., partnered to provide pharmacy benefit management services. The merger of these two organizations in 1998 created Prime Therapeutics, now partly owned by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.

In addition to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Prime provides pharmacy benefit management services to Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, provides health care coverage or benefit administration to more than 560,000 people. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska is a not-for-profit mutual insurance company.

Prime Therapeutics LLC is a thought leader in the pharmacy benefit management industry, transforming pharmacy through a customer-aligned and flexible business model that allows for unmatched collaboration with clients. Providing services nationwide to approximately 7.5 million covered lives, its client base includes several Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, employer and union groups, and third party administrators. Headquartered in St. Paul, Prime Therapeutics is collectively owned by various Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those plans. Learn more at www.primetherapeutics.com.