CONTACT: 
Peggy C. Frank, MBA 
VP, Public Relations, MCOL 
(954) 385-2128 
peggyf@mcol.com 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

MCOL RELEASES MEDICARE HMO RX COVERAGE SURVEY RESULTS; 
HMO MEMBERS, BENEFICIARIES QUERIED TO HELP HEALTH PLANS, PBMS, RX COMPANIES, CONSULTANTS AND POLICY MAKERS PLAN FOR 2003

RESULTS FROM TWO-YEAR ONLINE SURVEY PROVIDES SUBSTANTIVE DATA FOR DECISION MAKERS ADDRESSING MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE ISSUES FOR 2003

MODESTO, CA, January 17, 2002 ---- MCOL™, the business-to-business health management & managed care resource company, has released results from its two-year online survey of Medicare HMO members and other Medicare beneficiaries regarding Medicare HMO prescription coverage.

Says Claire Thayer, MCOL Vice President of Research and Development, "Given the importance of the Medicare prescription benefit issue to plans, the pharmaceutical industry, consumers, analysts and policy makers, the results from this study provide critical information for all parties involved as decision making is already underway for 2003 and beyond." 

The survey was conducted through MCOL's Medicare HMO web site at www.medicarehmo.com between May 2000 and December 2001. Approximately 750 individuals participated in the survey, which asked detailed questions regarding actual and desired prescription drug benefits, willingness to pay additional monthly premiums for desired drug benefits, and drug coverage and overall plan satisfaction. MCOL's analysis examined such factors as changes between 2000 and 2001, and specified differences between major national health plans. MCOL captured responses from Medicare HMO members, as well as other applicable populations in order to compare perceptions. 

Some of the key findings include: 

	Rx benefit levels and Rx satisfaction dropped, and consumer confusion about their level of covered Rx benefits increased correspondingly from 2000 to 2001.
	The correlation between Rx benefit and overall plan satisfaction was strong: 82.5% of those satisfied with their Plan overall were also satisfied with Rx benefit, while 66.7% of those dissatisfied with the Rx benefit were also dissatisfied with plan overall.
	Participants identified their desired Rx benefit coverage levels, and in 2001, 53% were willing to pay over $25 in additional monthly premiums to receive their desired Rx benefit level, and 18% over $50 per month.
	Significant variation in most responses was identified by specific region and major health plans.

Additional information about the survey, powered by MCOL's HMOSurvey.com, and the survey findings, are available from the MedicareHMO.com web site at: http://www.medicarehmo.com/mrepnr05.htm 

MCOL has released through its HealthQuest Publications division a CD-ROM version of the survey results, including a detailed 39 page report on the results and findings and an Excel workbook providing survey response data for custom analysis. The CD-ROM is priced at $79.00. Additional information and online ordering is available at http://www.mcareol.com/mcolfree/mcolfre1/hqmhmosv.htm. 

About MCOL 

MCOL, established in 1995, is a leading provider of business-to-business health management and managed care knowledge resources via the Internet as well as more traditional means. MCOL provides membership services, e-commerce and business e-solutions to professionals, and operates numerous related web sites including www.medicarehmo.com and www.hmosurvey.com. MCOL is based in Modesto, California, with additional offices in Portland, Oregon. For more information, please visit www.mcol.com/about.htm.  
 

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