Omnicare Statement

"Omnicare views CMS's release as contrary to the interests ofMedicare beneficiaries and inconsistent with the statute and purposesunderlying the Part D program. The patient protections upon which CMShas commented are both beneficial and appropriate for Part D enrolleesin long-term care facilities. Without these protections, long-termcare residents may be subject to prior authorization restrictionsdesigned for ambulatory patients, which may result in nursing homeresidents failing to receive their medications promptly after they areordered by the resident's physician. Similarly, a nursing homeresident on 8-10 medications may be required to switch most or all ofthese within a 60-day period in order to comply with a plan'sformulary, which would be both clinically unsound and contrary to the90 -180 day period which CMS previously has indicated is appropriate.Moreover, CMS is barred by statute from interfering in negotiationsbetween Part D plan sponsors and pharmacies. Our goal remains tocontinue to protect the patients we serve."

Omnicare, Inc. (NYSE: OCR), a Fortune 500 company based inCovington, Kentucky, is a leading provider of pharmaceutical care forthe elderly. Omnicare serves residents in long-term care facilitiesand other chronic care settings comprising approximately 1,437,000,beds in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Omnicare isthe largest U.S. provider of professional pharmacy, related consultingand data management services for skilled nursing, assisted living andother institutional healthcare providers as well as for hospicepatients in homecare and other settings. Omnicare's pharmacy servicesalso include distribution and patient assistance services forspecialty pharmaceuticals. Omnicare offers clinical research servicesfor the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in 30 countriesworldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site atwww.omnicare.com.

In addition to historical information, this press release containscertain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" withinthe meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of management'sviews and assumptions regarding business performance as of the timethe statements are made, and management does not undertake anyobligation to update these statements. These forward-lookingstatements include, but are not limited to, all statements regardingthe intent, belief or current expectations regarding the mattersdiscussed or incorporated by reference in this document (includingstatements as to "beliefs," "expectations," "anticipations,""intentions" or similar words) and all statements which are notstatements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements, togetherwith other statements that are not historical, involve known andunknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors thatcould cause results, performance or achievements to differ materiallyfrom those stated, including, but not limited to, the risks anduncertainties described in the Company's reports and filings with theSecurities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risksor uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions proveincorrect, the Company's actual results, performance or achievementscould differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, suchforward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place unduereliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as ofthe date hereof. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company doesnot undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions tothese forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstancesafter the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipatedevents.

For more information on Omnicare, Inc, visit www.omnicare.com.