"The key element of having a successful drug plan benefit is to have a balance of cost and quality management which focuses on appropriate utilization," said Toan. To supplement cost management approaches, Toan pointed to programs that promote the appropriate use of drugs by looking at prescription drugs within the context of overall health resources expended to treat a specific disease. He also cited the growing popularity of disease management, an approach that encompasses the comprehensive management of a patient with a specific disease.

Released in St. Louis today at a national conference of employers, managed care organizations and other pharmacy benefit plan sponsors, the Express Scripts Drug Trend Report is a one-of-a-kind study based on large samples of 8.8 million plan members in 1998 and 7.2 million in 1997.

Express Scripts, Inc., is the nation's leading independent full-service pharmacy benefit management (PBM) and specialty managed care company. Through facilities in seven states and Canada, the company serves thousands of clients throughout North America, including managed care organizations, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, employers and union-sponsored benefit plans.

The company provides fully-integrated PBM services, including network claims processing, mail-order pharmacy services, benefit design consultation, drug utilization review, formulary management, disease management, medical and drug data analysis services, medical information management services, which include provider profiling and outcome assessments, through its Practice Patterns Science, Inc. subsidiary, and informed decision counseling services through its Express Health Line SM division. The company also provides non-PBM services, including infusion therapy services through its IVTx subsidiary and distribution services through it
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Contact: Steve Littlejohn
slittlejohn@kupperparker.com
314-290-2024
Kupper Parker Communications
29-Jun-1999