Devices Group Purchasing

 News Release - April 18, 2006

Cardinal Health Signs Preferred Provider Agreements With MedAssets Supply Chain Systems for Alaris(R) and Pyxis(R) Products

Alaris(R) Products Added to Select Program for Drug Infusion Products

SAN DIEGO, April 18 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH ), the leading provider of products and services supporting the health care industry, signed preferred provider agreements with MedAssets Supply Chain Systems, a major group purchasing organization representing 22,000 health-care providers, for its Alaris® infusion safety systems and Pyxis® medication and supply automation solutions. MedAssets Supply Chain Systems has also added Alaris® products to its Select Program, which offers its members market-leading pricing on the preferred contracts within each market category.

"Cardinal Health's Alaris® products and Pyxis® products can improve patient safety from the point of order to the point of care, affecting all aspects of the medication-use process," said Carol Zilm, president of the Medication Products business of Cardinal Health. "We're pleased that MedAssets Supply Chain Systems has not only chosen to extend these agreements with Cardinal Health, but has elevated Alaris® products to their Select Program."

The multi-year Select Program and preferred provider agreement for Alaris® products includes the full range of Cardinal Health's infusion safety solutions including the Alaris® System, a comprehensive IV-safety system available for all types of infusions. The Alaris® System has demonstrated measurable improvements in patient safety and clinical performance in managing IV medications at the point of care. It is the only system available to offer an integrated modular platform that includes infusion therapy and patient monitoring.

The multi-year renewal agreement for Pyxis® products includes market-leading automation solutions such as the Pyxis® Anesthesia System for secure medication and supply management; Pyxis MedStation® 3000 automated medication management system; Pyxis® Connect physician order management system and Pyxis SupplyStation® secure inventory management system.

"MedAssets Supply Chain Systems provides our customers with innovative solutions that are practical, flexible and known for their quality and value," said Rand Ballard, chief operating officer and president, North American sales of MedAssets Inc. "Cardinal Health has a strong reputation in the industry, and our customers value the patient safety and workflow efficiency results these solutions provide them. We're pleased to enhance our relationship with Cardinal Health."

MedAssets, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., improves healthcare providers' margin and cash flow through revenue cycle and supply chain initiatives and decision support technology and services. MedAssets Supply Chain Systems is one of the fastest growing group purchasing organizations in the U.S. and builds customized solutions encompassing procurement of common medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, physician preference supplies, food and nutrition items, and capital equipment.

About Cardinal Health

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH ) is a $75 billion, global company serving the health-care industry with a broad portfolio of products and services. Through its diverse offering, Cardinal Health delivers integrated health-care solutions that help customers reduce their costs, improve efficiency and deliver better care to patients. The company manufactures, packages and distributes pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, offers a range of clinical services and develops automation products that improve the management and delivery of supplies and medication for hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies. Ranked No. 19 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 55,000 people on six continents. More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com.

Source: Cardinal Health

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