UHCO Universal American Financial (MM)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) today issued the following statement regarding the announcement of the acquisition of MemberHealth, Inc. of Solon, Ohio, by Universal American Financial Corp. (Universal American) (NASDAQ:UHCO) of Rye Brook, New York. MemberHealth, NCPA, and Computer Sciences Corporation collaborated to create Community Care Rx (CCRx)*, a pharmacy-driven model under MemberHealth's Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. MemberHealth CCRx is the nation's fourth largest PDP serving more than 1.1 million Americans. Bruce T. Roberts, RPh, executive vice president and CEO of NCPA said: "America's community pharmacists are proud of the role they have played in collaboration with MemberHealth to create a prescription drug plan in which more than a million Medicare beneficiaries find tremendous value. Today's announcement is just the latest validation that CCRx's pharmacy-driven model delivers sought-after, high-quality health care. By adding CCRx to an impressive portfolio of innovative and patient-focused health care plans and services, Universal American is demonstrating its commitment to the future of health care -- a future in which pharmacists are even more closely engaged with patients to help them use medicines safely and stay healthy, while reducing their out-of-pocket costs." "MemberHealth CCRx is unique among Part D plans because it so successfully aligns the interests of patients and pharmacists. This collaborative approach to health care created a compelling opportunity for Universal American. Today's announcement represents tremendous potential to gain wider acceptance of the forward-thinking policies that pharmacists have long championed." "We are very optimistic and excited about the potential ways in which Universal American and MemberHealth can improve product offerings and reach more seniors by working together." "We are pleased with the commitment MemberHealth and Universal American are demonstrating by this acquisition that community pharmacists will continue to be a significant partner to the overall health care of their patients in the Medicare program." The transaction is expected to be approved in 90-120 days and to close late in the third quarter of 2007. Upon completion, MemberHealth will operate as a part of the Universal American group of companies with Charles Hallberg remaining as president and CEO of MemberHealth. *Community Care Rx (CCRx) operates as Community Pharmacists Care Rx in Oklahoma. DATASOURCE: National Community Pharmacists Association CONTACT: Robert Appel, Senior Vice President, Communications, National Community Pharmacists Association, +1-703-838-2682, Web site: http://www.ncpanet.org/

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