ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS AND MHA EXPAND SUPPLY CONTRACT

INDIANAPOLIS (March 14, 2001) - Roche Diagnostics Corporation announced that Managed Health Care Associates, Inc. (MHA), has agreed to expand its purchasing contract with Roche Diagnostics to include COBAS Integra® chemistry systems, Roche/Hitachi MODULAR™ Systems for pre-analytical, chemistry and immunodiagnostics, Elecsys® immunoassay systems, and the PSD 1 and VS II for Task Targeted™ Automation. For MHA members, these additions, effective January 1, 2001, expand the offering from Roche Diagnostics, which already covers products for blood glucose monitoring and point-of-care testing.

"The Roche Diagnostics product portfolio offers MHA members both quality products and enhanced capabilities," said Lawrence S. Irene, chief executive officer of MHA. "Roche Diagnostics' commitment to continuing innovation assures that our member facilities will provide the finest healthcare available."

"MHA has been a valuable partner of Roche Diagnostics, and this expanded contract reaffirms the strength of that partnership. Working with MHA's management team, we will continue to enhance our understanding of the issues facing MHA members. This understanding will enable us to better support their needs for enhancing patient care and improving cost efficiency," commented Dick Aderman, senior vice president and general manager of Laboratory Systems, Roche Diagnostics Corporation.

MHA is headquartered in Florham Park, NJ, and has two offices located in Louisville, KY, and Richmond, VA. It is the dominant GPO to the long-term care industry, covering approximately 70% of the estimated 2.0 million long-term care beds in the U.S. Through acquisitions and internal growth, MHA has expanded to become a leading provider to the acute and non-acute healthcare and veterinary markets. MHA's reach is a significant factor in its success providing products and services to over 4,714 facilities, including 1,182 long-term care customers servicing an estimated 1.4 million beds and 732 acute care facilities with 135,902 beds.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-oriented healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and vitamins. Roche's innovative products and services address needs for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, thus enhancing people's well-being and quality of life. Through the company's Diagnostics Division, innovative testing products and services are made available to physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories worldwide. Roche Diagnostics Corporation, based in Indianapolis, is the North American headquarters for the diagnostics business of the company. For more information about Roche Diagnostics Corporation, please visit its web site at http://us.diagnostics.roche.com/.

COBAS Integra, MODULAR, Elecsys and Task Targeted are trademarks of a member of the Roche Group.