PacificCare Opens Carlsbad Facility

SAN DIEGO-PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. has opened California’s largestmail-order pharmacy center in the North County suburb of Carlsbad.Prescription Solutions, the health insurance firm’s pharmacy benefitsmanagement subsidiary, says the 84,000-sf mail-servicefacility allows the company to triple the capacity of its fast-growingprescription order business. It will also allow PacifiCare to grow itse-commerce pharmacy program for PacifiCare and Secure Horizons HMOmembersCompany officials say the original facility in Mira Mesa will remainopen. But they say Carlsbad’s ample work and proximity to largewholesalers and a regional U.S. Postal Center are the driving factors inits selection of the new building, which is more than four times larger.The expansion is expected to create up to 400 new jobs by 2004,including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and support staff.