2008-04-08 23:42:44 -

www.express-scripts.com - URAC, an independent health accreditation and education organization, has selected Express Scripts as one of three pharmacy benefit managers honored in the first-ever nationwide competition recognizing health management programs that empower and protect consumers.

Express Scripts was recognized for "Express Scripts Generics Today," a consumer campaign designed to advance the opportunity for patients and

plan sponsors to save millions of dollars in prescription drug spend without sacrificing the quality of care.

"Generics Today is an innovative consumer-education outreach effort. Generics Today informs patients and enables them to take advantage of unprecedented savings opportunities associated with formulary changes," explains Ed Weisbart, Express Scripts' chief medical officer, medical affairs. Express Scripts was able to minimize disruption while informing patients about cost effective alternative medications, provide members with personalized information regarding specific alternatives and opportunities, and assist patients of Express Scripts Home Delivery Pharmacy with moving to preferred alternative medications. New research evaluating the campaign, which generated over $600 million in savings, found that Express Scripts communications program was nearly two or three times more effective than financial incentives alone.

In all, URAC honored 22 winners for excellence among entries from health care management, health information technology; health plan and pharmacy benefit management organizations. Programs were selected as winners for their ability to measurably demonstrate an impact on consumer empowerment and/or protection, as well as their potential for wide-spread implementation of the program by other organizations.

The awards were presented during URAC's Best Practices in Consumer Empowerment and Protection Conference in Orlando Florida. During the conference, award finalists presented their model programs to attendees so these best practices can be duplicated in communities across the country.

"A Best Practices Award is a strong signal to the marketplace that an organization places a premium on consumer protection and empowerment," said Alan P. Spielman, URAC's president and CEO.

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and education programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.

Express Scripts, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESRX) is one of the largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies in North America, providing PBM services to 55 million patients through facilities in 13 states and Canada. Express Scripts serves thousands of client groups, including managed-care organizations, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, employers and union-sponsored benefit plans. Express Scripts is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. More information can be found at www.express-scripts.com.

Express Scripts, Inc.
Erin Mohan, 314-684-6310
emmohan@express-scripts.com