HDMA APPOINTS KEN COUCH NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Paul Julian Replaces Couch as Vice Chairman

Arlington, VA – November 19, 2007 – HDMA has named Ken Couch, President, Smith Drug Company, to the position of Chairman of the Board. Couch replaces former HDMA Chairman Mark Parrish. Paul Julian, Executive Vice President and Group President of McKesson Corporation, will become HDMA’s new Vice Chairman. Both appointments will take effect on December 1, 2007. All other members of the 2008 HDMA Board of Directors will remain the same.

“I would like to thank Mark Parrish for his year of leadership and for his commitment to HDMA’s strategic issue priorities, particularly track-and-trace technology utilization in healthcare” said John M. Gray, HDMA President and CEO. “Moving forward, Ken Couch has the industry experience and strong reputation needed to ensure leadership continuity. He has served as a member of the HDMA Board for many years, and he continues to be a strong and consistent advocate for HDMA and the healthcare industry.

“HDMA has an established Board succession plan, and a group of experienced industry leaders on the Board of Directors,” continued Gray. “As Ken and Paul assume their new roles, I am confident that HDMA will move forward seamlessly and continue to provide leadership and guidance on critical business, technology and public policy issues.”

About HDMA
The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) is the national association representing primary, full-service healthcare distributors. Each business day, the member companies of HDMA are responsible for ensuring that more than eight million prescription medicines and healthcare products are safely delivered to 145,000 pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, clinics, government and other providers in all 50 states. This essential public health function is provided with tremendous efficiency, saving the nation’s healthcare system nearly $32 billion each year. HDMA and its members are the vital link in the healthcare system, working daily to provide value, remove costs and develop innovative solutions to deliver care safely and effectively.