University of Southern California Selects RxAmerica to Provide Pharmacy Benefit Management Services

PR Newswire - April 7, 2004 - SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - The University of Southern California (USC) announced today that it has chosen RxAmerica, a leading national pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), to provide prescription management services for its 10,000 plus employees in California.

"RxAmerica is thrilled to be partnering with USC to provide pharmacy benefit services for its faculty and staff," said John Gardynik, RxAmerica's President. "Our experience and record of success with similar plans will enable us to help USC achieve its goals of 1) improving the health and well-being of its employees, 2) delivering the highest level of service to its members and providers, and 3) controlling prescription benefit costs going forward."

RxAmerica's selection was facilitated by AELRx, Inc., a nationwide pharmacy benefit consulting firm headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and was the result of a proposal process involving several of the nation's top pharmacy benefits managers. Each PBM's proposal was subjected to a rigorous evaluation. The recommendation to partner with RxAmerica was based not only on the company's record of success in the southern California market, but also on its ability to meet the unique needs and service requirements of USC's faculty and staff.

About University of Southern California - USC, located in Los Angeles, California, was founded in 1880. A world leader in private research, USC is also home to one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country. The university is closely affiliated with various health care endeavors including hospitals, physician groups and retail pharmacies. USC's continued success is due to excellence in teaching and research, a deep and abiding commitment to public service, and a loyal educational community, the Trojan Family.

About RxAmerica - RxAmerica is a leading Pharmacy Benefits Manager that specializes in controlling costs, creating customized solutions and delivering best-in-class service for its clients. RxAmerica has partnered with several of California's largest and most successful managed care providers to deliver lower prescription costs in a consistently inflationary environment. With its powerful online reporting tool, RxInsider, RxAmerica delivers innovative and targeted programs that improve the health of members while lowering drug benefit costs for its clients.

Nationally, RxAmerica provides prescription benefits for more than five million individuals through a retail network of more than 53,000 pharmacies and a state-of-the-art mail order facility. RxAmerica is a wholly owned subsidiary of Longs Drug Stores Corporation (NYSE - symbol LDG), one of the leading drug store chains in North America. Information on Longs Drugs is available at www.longs.com.

For further information on RxAmerica, call1-800-770-8014 or visit RxAmerica's website at www.rxamerica.com.