Health Mart Announces Growth to 2,000 Member Pharmacies

Health Mart’s impressive growth and industry recognition underscore its strong appeal to independents looking to take advantage of innovative, business-building solutions that help them attract new customers, maximize the value of existing customers, and enhance business efficiency.

“Health Mart’s rapid growth is a direct result of what the Health Mart brand has come to represent in the industry — when consumers walk into a Health Mart pharmacy, they know they’re going to receive high-quality, personalized care,” said Tim Canning, President of Health Mart. “The innovative solutions and programs that Health Mart continues to deliver to franchisees are empowering independents to not only thrive in today’s marketplace, but to set new standards of customer and operational excellence within the industry.”

In June of this year, Wilson Health Information, a leading consumer insight firm, ranked Health Mart No. 1 in overall pharmacy customer satisfaction in the 2008 WilsonRx^® Pharmacy Satisfaction Survey. The survey was independently conducted and funded by Wilson Health Information and ranked Health Mart No.1 for overall pharmacy customer satisfaction based on survey responses from 34,454 pharmacy customers across the United States. Health Mart outperformed numerous other retail pharmacies, including U.S.-based chains, other independent pharmacies, and franchises to receive the number one position.

In addition to earning the number one position for overall customer satisfaction, Health Mart was also top ranked in nine other customer satisfaction categories.

Business-Building Solutions Drive Franchisee Success

Health Mart delivers an unmatched combination of business-building programs and services designed to help independents compete and win in today’s healthcare industry. Key solutions that are helping Health Mart pharmacies attract new customers, maximize the value of existing customers, and enhance business efficiency, include:

• McKesson Reimbursement Advantage^sm is the industry’s most comprehensive reimbursement optimization package, comprising financial services (automated claim resubmission), analytic services, customer care, and market-leading pre and post edit (PPE) capabilities. Unlike competitive offerings, McKesson Reimbursement Advantage provides Health Mart pharmacies with a dedicated team of advisors, ensuring that each pharmacy has a committed reimbursement expert to identify untapped reimbursement opportunities. The solution has been proven to increase a pharmacy’s net profit by $150 to $1,250 per month.
• The McKesson Patient Outreach Network encourages patient medication adherence through pharmacy counseling, patient education, and refill reminder programs. Under this program, Health Mart pharmacies receive reimbursement from participating manufacturers for the refill reminder letters they send.
• The Health Mart Diabetes Life Center^® provides patients with the best resources and products to help them manage their disease. Exclusive to Health Mart, the Diabetes Life Center can help pharmacists address patients’ diabetes health and wellness needs through education and resources, a robust product selection, and program-dedicated signage.
• Branding and Merchandising Support provided to franchisees helps member pharmacies attract new customers and leverage relationships with existing customers through national advertising, distinct interior decor and exterior signage, and regular merchandising support.

About Health Mart

Health Mart Systems, Inc.^®, today’s fastest-growing independent pharmacy network in the U.S., helps independent pharmacies compete locally and nationally by delivering managed care contracting services, marketing and advertising tools, in-store programs, and operational support. Health Mart was ranked No. 1 in pharmacy customer satisfaction by Wilson Health Information, a leading consumer insight firm, in the 2008 WilsonRx^® Pharmacy Satisfaction Survey. Health Mart’s distinctive, consumer-preferred logo, store design, and decor help independent pharmacists reinforce their unique role as community healthcare advisors providing exceptional counseling, patient education, and wellness support. Health Mart delivers industry-leading business value all for a low monthly fee. The Health Mart franchise is owned by McKesson Corporation. For more information, please visit www.healthmart.com.

About McKesson

McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 18^th on the Fortune 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes and improving the quality and safety of patient care. McKesson is the longest-operating company in healthcare today, marking its 175^th anniversary this year. Over the course of its history, McKesson has grown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For more information, visit www.mckesson.com.