More proof that the future of health care is a personalized approach based on the genetic makeup of the patient: Yesterday Medco Health Solutions (NYSE:MHS) said it's purchasing genetic-testing expert DNA Direct.

Terms weren't disclosed, so it's likely a small purchase, but it shows the direction that medicine is headed. The effectiveness of an ever-increasing number of drugs is linked to the genetic makeup of the patient, so it makes sense for the pharmacy benefit manager to increase its expertise in genetic testing.

Medco isn't new to genetic testing. The company already has programs to ensure that some genetic tests are used before doctors prescribe drugs like warfarin and AstraZeneca's (NYSE:AZN) tamoxifen that require genetic testing. Medco has even launched a study to determine if patients with the genetic makeup that allows them to respond to Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) and sanofi-aventis' (NYSE:SNY) Plavix will fare better than those on Eli Lilly's (NYSE:LLY) Effient.

Still DNA Direct should benefit Medco by adding expertise on more than 2,000 genetic and molecular tests available today including genetic counselors to help patients and doctors.

Pharmacy benefit managers like Medco, Express Scripts (NASDAQ:ESRX), and CVS Caremark (NYSE:CVS) are in the business of saving money for their clients. By offering genetic tests, pharmacy benefit managers can get patients on the right drugs and potentially save money for their clients that actually foot the bill -- insurance companies and companies that self insure. Being a relatively new aspect of practicing medicine, there's a high level of misuse of diagnostic tests. By educating doctors, Medco should also be able to lower costs for their clients.

Investors looking for innovative forward-looking companies can find one in Medco. It appears to be in the company's DNA.