Empowering online tool also delivers simplified, plan-specific prescription savings options for members of Medicare Part D and Consumer-Directed plans

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In just a few clicks, a new online resource from Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS - News) cuts through the confusing clutter for patients searching for cost savings opportunities covered under their prescription drug program.
One in five Americans now have access to Savings Advisor, the newest advancement offered by Medco, the nation's leading pharmacy benefit manager. Available through http://www.medco.com, this tool provides users with a simplified and personalized menu of medication choices starting with the lowest-cost medication alternative including generics and preferred brand-name drugs, based upon their personal drug benefit coverage.

"We believe a wise consumer is an informed consumer, and the Savings Advisor tool allows our employees and retirees to become more informed and involved in the management of their prescription medications," said Steve Hoffman, human resources/multi-media, Campbell Soup Company, a Medco client. "Knowing and understanding the alternatives available can result in substantial savings for our employees and for Campbell's."

Savings Advisor joins the suite of industry-leading resources available to Medco members - including Medicare Part D customers and members with a consumer-directed pharmacy plan - through medco.com®. In 2005, medco.com processed approximately 19 million prescription orders, and currently has more than 4 million active registered users.

"Medco helped define online pharmacy with our thorough understanding of member goals - and we are bringing that knowledge to bear," said Tom Feitel, Medco's chief web officer. "While many online pharmacies require a lengthy process for customers to compare drug prices that are often only estimates, Savings Advisor has simplified and personalized the system to the point where, quite simply, there is no better tool on the Web for obtaining accurate and actionable results."

Savings Advisor leverages the popularity of the Internet to answer consumers' need for simple, easy-to-use, plan-specific cost information - a need driven by the growing trend in health care consumerism. According to a 2005 Harris Interactive survey, the number of U.S. adults who have gone online to research health or medical information increased to approximately 117 million from 111 million the prior year.

To use Savings Advisor, members enter a medication into the search function, or choose from a list of medications generated from their prescription drug history. Members are quickly presented with a simple table listing all of the appropriate, equivalent dose, lower-cost medications covered by their drug plan, including brand-name alternatives, generic equivalents and alternatives, mail/retail prices and in some cases, even over- the-counter options.

Members are given plan-specific information on the comparative out-of- pocket costs at retail and by mail service, both per prescription and on an annual basis, as well as the cost to the plan sponsor so that members are aware of the total cost of these medications. The menu clearly identifies the "Lowest Cost Alternative" for the member from among the listed options, based upon the individual plan design.

"Consumers are increasingly comfortable with Web sites that present lower- cost alternatives for everything from airline fares to digital cameras. Savings Advisor delivers that same powerful savings simplicity to the healthcare consumer," Feitel said.

Savings Advisor also provides easy-to-understand clinical information about each drug, as well as plan-specific rules for a particular medication; for example, if prior authorization is required.

To encourage member/physician dialogue about lower-cost alternatives, members can print a hard copy of the options, complete with pricing information, to take with them to discuss with their doctor. Included in the hard copy is a fax form, in the event the physician decides to choose an alternative. The fax form can be filled out by the doctor and submitted to Medco to immediately take advantage of the cost savings on the member's behalf.

Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medco's YOURx PLAN®, or another Medco-administered Medicare Prescription Drug Plan can benefit from Savings Advisor. The tool can help beneficiaries and their caregivers maximize their Medicare drug benefit by identifying lower-cost options available through their plan.

Savings Advisor can also make it easier for members with a consumer- directed or high-deductible pharmacy plan manage their benefit and make cost- effective choices.

Early Success for Savings Advisor

Over 800,000 unique pricing transactions have been conducted through Savings Advisor since its initial introduction to Medco clients on March 1, 2006, and more than 85 percent of transactions that present an alternative through Savings Advisor have identified a lower-cost generic option to the member, illustrating the frequency with which cost savings opportunities can be identified. Furthermore, members are taking action through Savings Advisor - at least 30,000 transactions on Savings Advisor have included members printing off the fax form for their doctor.

Medco was the only pharmacy benefit manager to be recognized among the 2006 Consumer Directed Health Care and the National Health, Wellness & Prevention Award Winners. The company received an award at the Consumer Directed Healthcare Conference in early May in the category of "Best Technology Introduced by a Health Plan Organization for Employee/Consumer Choice."

About Medco

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS - News) is the nation's leading pharmacy benefit manager based its 2005 total net revenues of nearly $38 billion. Medco's prescription drug programs are designed to drive down the cost of pharmacy health care for private and public employers, health plans, labor unions and government agencies of all sizes, and for individuals served by the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program. Medco's technologically advanced mail-order pharmacies and award-winning Internet pharmacy have been recognized for setting new industry benchmarks for pharmacy dispensing quality. Medco serves the needs of patients with complex conditions requiring sophisticated treatment through its specialty pharmacy operation, which became the nation's largest with the 2005 acquisition of Accredo Health, Incorporated. Medco is the highest-ranked pharmacy benefit manager on the 2006 Fortune 500 list. On the Net: http://www.medco.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward- looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business, particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.