INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES INC
8-K, 1996-11-13
SKILLED NURSING CARE FACILITIES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                 ----------------------------------------------


                                    FORM 8-K


                 ----------------------------------------------

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 19, 1996
                                                 --------------------------

                        INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


           Delaware                    1-12306                23-2428312
- ----------------------------        ------------              ----------
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission          (IRS Employer
        Of corporation)             File Number)         Identification No.)



10065 Red Run Boulevard, Owings Mills, Maryland               21117
- ------------------------------------------------            ---------
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (410) 998-8400
                                                    ----------------------------

                                 Not Applicable
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


<PAGE>




Item 5.  Other Events

         On October 19, 1996,  Integrated  Health Services,  Inc.  ("IHS"),  IHS
Acquisition  XIX, Inc., a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of IHS ("Merger  Sub"),  and
Coram Healthcare  Corporation  ("Coram") entered into a definitive agreement and
plan of merger  (the  "Agreement")  providing  for the merger of Merger Sub into
Coram, with Coram becoming a wholly-owned  subsidiary of IHS. Coram is a leading
provider of alternative site (outside the hospital) infusion therapy and related
services in the United  States,  operating  132  branches  located in 43 states.
Infusion  therapy  involves the intravenous  administration  of  anti-infective,
biotherapy,  chemotherapy, pain management, nutrition and other therapies. Other
services  offered  by Coram  include  the  provision  of  lithotripsy  and other
non-intravenous products and services.

         Under the terms of the  Agreement,  which was  approved by the Board of
Directors of both IHS and Coram,  holders of Coram common stock  ("Coram  Common
Stock")  will  receive for each share of Coram Common Stock 0.2111 of a share of
IHS Common  Stock,  having a market value of $5.44 based on the closing price of
the IHS  Common  Stock on the last  business  day  prior to the  signing  of the
Agreement. Options and warrants to purchase Coram Common Stock will be converted
at the closing into options and warrants,  respectively,  to purchase IHS Common
Stock.  At September 30, 1996 Coram had outstanding  42,266,867  shares of Coram
Common Stock, options to purchase 6,806,531 shares of Coram Common Stock ("Coram
Options")  and  warrants  to purchase  7,210,118  shares of Coram  Common  Stock
("Coram  Warrants"),  including  warrants to purchase  1,653,064 shares of Coram
Common Stock owned by Coram Funding, Inc. ("CFI") which will be purchased by IHS
at the effective time of the merger as described  below. In addition,  Coram has
agreed  to issue  5,000,000  shares of Coram  Common  Stock in  settlement  of a
pending class action lawsuit.  IHS will issue approximately  9,978,000 shares of
IHS  Common   Stock  under  the   Agreement,   and  will  reserve  for  issuance
approximately  2,610,000  shares of IHS Common Stock  issuable  upon exercise of
Coram Options and Coram Warrants  (after giving effect to the  transaction  with
CFI discussed  below).  At September 30, 1996,  IHS had  outstanding  23,117,934
shares  of  IHS  Common  Stock  and  had  reserved  for  issuance  approximately
10,500,000  shares under stock option and stock  purchase plans and warrants and
7,989,275 shares upon conversion of outstanding convertible debentures.

         The merger is  intended  to qualify  as a tax free  reorganization,  as
permitted  by the  Internal  Revenue  Code,  and a "pooling  of  interests"  for
accounting  and financial  reporting  purposes.  Completion of the  transaction,
which is expected to occur in the first  quarter of 1997,  is subject to,  among
other  things,  approval  by each  company's  stockholders,  receipt of required
regulatory  approvals,  consent  of senior  bank  lenders  and  other  customary
conditions.

         In addition,  IHS has agreed to purchase at the  effective  time of the
merger  from CFI,  an  affiliate  of  Donaldson,  Lufkin &  Jenrette  Securities
Corporation,  the Coram bridge notes and warrants to purchase Coram Common Stock
(collectively, the "CFI


                                       -2-



<PAGE>



Securities")  purchased  by CFI in April 1995.  The  purchase  price for the CFI
Securities  will be cash in an amount  equal to  $172.3  million  (plus  accrued
interest  thereon  from  January 1, 1997 at the rate of 11% per annum) (the "CFI
Securities Cash Purchase  Price").  IHS may elect to pay all or a portion of the
CFI  Securities   Cash  Purchase  Price  through  the  issuance  of  11%  Senior
Subordinated  Notes due 2007 of IHS (the "11% Notes") in an aggregate  principal
amount equal to  approximately  101.394% of that  portion of the CFI  Securities
Cash Purchase Price to be paid through the issuance of 11% Notes.

         In addition,  the litigation between Coram and Caremark  International,
Inc. ("CII"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MedPartners, Inc., will be settled at
the  closing  of the  transaction,  and CII  will  receive  from  Coram a 2-year
promissory note in the principal  amount of $52.7 million plus accrued  interest
from September 30, 1996 through closing in exchange for the  approximately  $111
million  principal  amount  of  subordinated  notes  issued  by  Coram to CII in
connection with Coram's  acquisition of an alternate site infusion business from
CII. IHS will assume a total of  approximately  $375 million of  indebtedness in
the merger, including the new debt to be issued to CFI and CII.

         Smith Barney Inc. acted as financial advisor to IHS in the transaction.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

         (c)  Exhibits.

         2        Agreement  and Plan of Merger  entered  into as of October 19,
                  1996, among Coram Healthcare  Corporation,  Integrated  Health
                  Services, Inc. and IHS Acquisition XIX, Inc.

         10.1     Agreement,  dated as of October  19,  1996,  among  Integrated
                  Health Services, Inc. and Coram Funding, Inc.

         10.2     Agreement,  dated  as of  October  20,  1996,  by and  between
                  MedPartners, Inc. and Integrated Health Services, Inc.




                                       -3-



<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                           INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, INC.



Date: November 12, 1996                     By: /s/ W. Bradley Bennett    
                                                ----------------------    
                                            Name: W. Bradley Bennett      
                                            Title: Executive Vice President -
                                                  Chief Accounting Officer



                                       -4-




                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER



     THIS  AGREEMENT  AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Plan of Merger") is entered into
as  of  October  19,  1996,  among  CORAM  HEALTHCARE  CORPORATION,  a  Delaware
corporation ("Coram"),  INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation
("IHS"),   and  IHS  ACQUISITION  XIX,  INC.,  a  Delaware   corporation  and  a
wholly-owned subsidiary of IHS ("Merger Sub").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  the respective  Boards of Directors of Coram,  IHS and Merger Sub
have approved the merger of Merger Sub with and into Coram (the "Merger"),  upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein,  whereby each share of
Common Stock,  par value $.001 per share, of Coram (the "Coram Common Stock" and
the issued and  outstanding  shares  thereof,  the  "Coram  Shares"),  not owned
directly or indirectly by Coram, will be converted into the right to receive the
"Merger Consideration" (as herein defined);

     WHEREAS,  each of  Coram,  IHS  and  Merger  Sub  desire  to  make  certain
representations,  warranties,  covenants and  agreements in connection  with the
Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger; and

     WHEREAS,  it is intended that the Merger shall  qualify for federal  income
tax  purposes as a  reorganization  within the meaning of Section  368(a) of the
Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code"),  and that the Merger
shall be recorded for accounting purposes as a pooling of interests.

     NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises, and the mutual covenants
and agreements contained herein, the parties do hereby agree as follows:


Section 1. The Merger

     1.1 The Merger.  Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions set forth in
this Plan of Merger and in accordance  with the General  Corporation  Law of the
State of Delaware (the "DGCL"),  at the  "Effective  Time" (as defined  herein),
Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Coram in 

<PAGE>

accordance  with the  provisions  of  Section  252 of the  DGCL.  Following  the
Effective  Time,  the separate  existence  of Merger Sub shall cease,  and Coram
shall continue as the surviving corporation in the Merger (hereinafter sometimes
referred  to  as  the  "Surviving   Corporation")  as  a  business   corporation
incorporated  under the laws of the  State of  Delaware  under  the name  "Coram
Healthcare  Corporation,"  and shall  succeed  to and  assume all the rights and
obligations of Merger Sub and Coram in accordance with the DGCL.

     1.2 Effective Time of the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at such
time  (the  "Effective  Time") as a duly  executed  Certificate  of Merger  (the
"Certificate  of Merger") is filed with the  Secretary  of State of the State of
Delaware.

     1.3 Closing.  The closing (the  "Closing") of the Merger will take place at
the New York  offices of Paul  Hastings,  Janofsky & Walker LLP on a date and at
the time to be agreed upon by the parties (the "Closing Date") which (subject to
the  satisfaction  or waiver of the conditions set forth in Sections 9.2 and 9.3
hereof) is not later  than the second  business  day after  satisfaction  of the
conditions  set forth in Section 9.1 (other than  Sections  9.1(a) and  9.1(b)),
but,  subject to Section  8.4,  in no event later than March 31,  1997,  or such
other date, time and place as shall be agreed upon among the parties hereto.

     1.4 Surviving Corporation.

          (a) Certificate of Incorporation.  The Certificate of Incorporation of
     Merger Sub as in effect  immediately  prior to the Effective  Time shall be
     the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving  Corporation,  until duly
     amended in accordance with the terms thereof and of the DGCL.

          (b) By-Laws.  The By-laws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior
     to the  Effective  Time shall be the By-laws of the  Surviving  Corporation
     until duly  amended in  accordance  with their terms and as provided by the
     Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and the DGCL.

          (c)  Directors.  The  directors  of Merger Sub at the  Effective  Time
     shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving
     Corporation  until their  respective  successors  have been duly elected or
     appointed and qualified or until their earlier death,


                                       -2-


<PAGE>

     resignation  or  removal in  accordance  with the  Surviving  Corporation's
     Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.

          (d) Officers.  The officers of Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall,
     from and  after  the  Effective  Time,  be the  officers  of the  Surviving
     Corporation  until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and
     qualified  or  until  their  earlier  death,   resignation  or  removal  in
     accordance with the Surviving  Corporation's  Certificate of  Incorporation
     and By-Laws.

          (e) Further Action. If at any time after the Effective Time, IHS shall
     consider  that any further  deeds,  assignments,  conveyances,  agreements,
     documents,  instruments  or  assurances  in  law or any  other  things  are
     necessary or desirable to vest, perfect, confirm or record in the Surviving
     Corporation  the title to any  property,  rights,  privileges,  powers  and
     franchises  of Merger Sub by reason of, or as a result of, the  Merger,  or
     otherwise to carry out the provisions of this Plan of Merger,  the officers
     of  Merger  Sub  shall  execute  and  deliver,   upon  IHS's  request,  any
     instruments or assurances,  and do all other things  necessary or proper to
     vest,  perfect,   confirm  or  record  title  to  such  property,   rights,
     privileges,  powers  and  franchises  in  the  Surviving  Corporation,  and
     otherwise to carry out the provisions of this Plan of Merger.


Section 2.    Effect of the Merger on the Capital  Stock of the  Constituent
              Corporations; Exchange of Certificates

     2.1  Shares  of the  Constituent  and the  Surviving  Corporations.  At the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger:

          (a) Each share of capital  stock of Merger Sub issued and  outstanding
     immediately prior to the Effective Time,  without any action on the part of
     the  holder   thereof,   shall  be  converted   into  one  fully  paid  and
     nonassessable  share of common  stock,  par value  $.001 per share,  of the
     Surviving Corporation.

          (b) Each  share of Coram  Common  Stock  that is owned by Coram or any
     subsidiary of Coram shall  automatically  be canceled and retired and shall
     cease to exist.



                                       -3-

<PAGE>

          (c) Each other share of Coram Common Stock issued and  outstanding  at
     the Effective Time, without any further action by the holder thereof, shall
     be converted into the right to receive,  and become exchangeable for, .2111
     (the "Exchange Ratio") validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable shares
     of common stock,  $.001 par value,  of IHS (the "IHS Common  Stock," shares
     thereof,  "IHS Shares" and the IHS Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the
     "IHS Merger Shares").

          (d)  Anti-Dilution  Provisions.  If after the date hereof and prior to
     the  Effective  Time IHS shall have  declared a stock  split  (including  a
     reverse  split) of IHS  Common  Stock or a  dividend  payable in IHS Common
     Stock, or any other  distribution of securities or dividend (in cash (other
     than ordinary cash  dividends) or otherwise) to holders of IHS Common Stock
     with respect to their IHS Common Stock (including without limitation such a
     distribution  or  dividend  made  in  connection  with a  recapitalization,
     reclassification,   merger,   consolidation,   reorganization   or  similar
     transaction) then the Merger Consideration shall be appropriately  adjusted
     to reflect such stock split, dividend or other distribution of securities.

     2.2 Reserved.

     2.3 Exchange of  Certificates.  (a) Exchange Agent.  Prior to the Effective
Time,  IHS shall enter into an agreement  with American  Stock  Transfer & Trust
Company (the  "Exchange  Agent") which  provides that IHS shall deposit with the
Exchange Agent as of the Effective Time, for the benefit of the holders of Coram
Shares,  for  exchange in  accordance  with this Section 2, through the Exchange
Agent,  certificates  representing the IHS Merger Shares (such shares,  together
with any  dividends or  distributions  with  respect  thereto with a record date
after the Effective Time, being hereinafter  referred to as the "Exchange Fund")
issuable pursuant to Section 2.1 in exchange for outstanding Coram Shares.

     (b) Exchange Procedures.  As soon as reasonably  practicable,  but no later
than ten business days after the Effective  Time,  the Exchange Agent shall mail
to each holder of record of a  certificate  or  certificates  which  immediately
prior  to  the  Effective  Time  represented   outstanding   Coram  Shares  (the
"Certificates") whose shares were converted into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1, (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall


                                       -4-

<PAGE>

specify  that  delivery  shall be  effected,  and risk of loss and  title to the
Certificates  shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange
Agent  and  shall be in such  form and have  such  other  provisions  as IHS may
reasonably  specify) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of
the Certificates in exchange for certificates  representing shares of IHS Common
Stock.  Upon surrender of a Certificate for  cancellation to the Exchange Agent,
together  with  such  letter  of  transmittal,  duly  executed,  and such  other
documents as may  reasonably  be required by the Exchange  Agent,  the holder of
such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a certificate
representing  that number of whole  shares of IHS Common Stock which such holder
has the right to receive  pursuant to the  provisions of this Section 2, and the
Certificate  so  surrendered  shall  forthwith  be  canceled.  In the event of a
transfer of ownership of Coram  Shares which is not  registered  in the transfer
records of Coram, a certificate  representing the proper number of shares of IHS
Common  Stock may be issued to a person  other than the person in whose name the
Certificate so surrendered is registered,  if such Certificate shall be properly
endorsed or otherwise  be in proper form for transfer and the person  requesting
such  payment  shall pay any  transfer or other taxes  required by reason of the
issuance  of shares of IHS Common  Stock to a person  other than the  registered
holder of such Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of IHS that such tax
has been paid or is not  applicable.  Until  surrendered as contemplated by this
Section 2.3,  each  Certificate  shall be deemed at any time after the Effective
Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the  certificate
representing  shares  of IHS  Common  Stock  and cash in lieu of any  fractional
shares of IHS Common Stock as contemplated by this Section 2.3. No interest will
be paid or will accrue on any cash payable in lieu of any  fractional  shares of
IHS Common  Stock or on any cash  dividends  payable  with respect to IHS Merger
Shares.  To the extent permitted by law, former  stockholders of record of Coram
shall be  entitled  to vote  after  the  Effective  Time at any  meeting  of IHS
stockholders  the number of whole  shares of IHS Common  Stock into which  their
respective  Coram Shares are converted,  regardless of whether such holders have
exchanged their  Certificates for certificates  representing IHS Common Stock in
accordance with this Section 2.3.

     (c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No dividends or other
distributions  with  respect  to IHS Common  Stock with a record  date after the
Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate


                                       -5-

<PAGE>

with respect to the shares of IHS Common Stock  represented  thereby and no cash
payment in lieu of fractional  shares shall be paid to any such holder  pursuant
to Section  2.3(e) until the surrender of such  Certificate  in accordance  with
this Section 2. Subject to the effect of applicable laws, following surrender of
any such  Certificate,  there  shall be paid to the  holder  of the  certificate
representing  whole  shares of IHS Common  Stock  issued in  exchange  therefor,
without  interest,  (i) at the time of such  surrender,  the  amount of any cash
payable in lieu of a  fractional  share of IHS Common Stock to which such holder
is entitled  pursuant  to Section  2.3(e) and the amount of  dividends  or other
distributions  with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with
respect to such whole  shares of IHS  Common  Stock and (ii) at the  appropriate
payment date, the amount of dividends or other  distributions with a record date
after the  Effective  Time but prior to such  surrender  and with a payment date
subsequent  to such  surrender  payable with respect to such whole shares of IHS
Common Stock.

     (d) No Further  Ownership Rights in Coram Shares.  All shares of IHS Common
Stock issued upon the surrender for exchange of  Certificates in accordance with
the terms of this Section 2 (including  any cash paid pursuant to Section 2.3(c)
or 2.3(e))  shall be deemed to have been issued (and paid) in full  satisfaction
of all rights  pertaining to the Coram Shares  theretofore  represented  by such
Certificates.  If, after the Effective Time,  Certificates  are presented to the
Surviving  Corporation  or the  Exchange  Agent for any  reason,  they  shall be
canceled  and  exchanged  as  provided in this  Section 2,  except as  otherwise
provided by law.

     (e) No Fractional Shares. No certificates or scrip representing  fractional
shares of IHS Common  Stock shall be issued upon the  surrender  for exchange of
Certificates,  and such  fractional  share  interests will not entitle the owner
thereof to vote or to any rights of a stockholder  of IHS.  Notwithstanding  any
other  provision  of this Plan of Merger,  each holder of shares of Coram Common
Stock exchanged pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to
receive a fraction of a share of IHS Common Stock (after taking into account all
Certificates  delivered by such holder) shall  receive,  in lieu  thereof,  cash
(without  interest) in an amount equal to such fractional part of a share of IHS
Common Stock multiplied by the Average IHS Trading Price.

     (f)  Termination  of Exchange  Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund which
remains undistributed to the holders of


                                       -6-
<PAGE>

the  Certificates  for six months after the Effective Time shall be delivered to
IHS, upon demand,  and any holders of the  Certificates who have not theretofore
complied  with this Section 2 shall  thereafter  look only to IHS for payment of
IHS Common Stock, any cash in lieu of fractional  shares of IHS Common Stock and
any dividends or distributions with respect to IHS Common Stock.

     (g) No  Liability.  None of IHS,  Merger Sub,  Coram or the Exchange  Agent
shall be liable to any person in  respect of any shares of IHS Common  Stock (or
dividends or distributions  with respect thereto) or cash from the Exchange Fund
delivered to a public official  pursuant to any applicable  abandoned  property,
escheat or similar  law.  If any  Certificates  shall not have been  surrendered
prior to the end of the applicable period after the Effective Time under escheat
laws (or  immediately  prior to such  earlier  date on which  any  shares of IHS
Common Stock,  any cash in lieu of fractional  shares of IHS Common Stock or any
dividends or  distributions  with respect to IHS Common Stock in respect of such
Certificates   would  otherwise  escheat  to  or  become  the  property  of  any
governmental  entity),  any such shares,  cash,  dividends or  distributions  in
respect of such  Certificates  shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law,
become the property of the Surviving  Corporation,  free and clear of all claims
or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.

     (h)  Investment of Exchange  Fund. The Exchange Agent shall invest any cash
included  in the  Exchange  Fund,  as directed  by IHS,  on a daily  basis.  Any
interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to IHS.


       2.4 Corporate Acts of Merger Sub. All corporate  acts,  plans,  policies,
approvals  and  authorizations  of Merger Sub,  its  stockholders,  its Board of
Directors,  committees  elected or appointed by the Board of Directors,  and all
officers and agents,  valid  immediately  prior to the Effective Time,  shall be
those of the Surviving Corporation and shall be as effective and binding thereon
as they were with respect to Merger Sub to the extent not inconsistent  with the
terms of this Plan of Merger.


Section 3. Representations and Warranties of Coram.

     Coram hereby represents and warrants to IHS and Merger Sub as follows:


                                       -7-

<PAGE>


     3.1 Organization,  Existence and Good Standing. Coram is a corporation duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware.  Coram has all necessary  corporate  power to own its  properties  and
assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted.  Coram does not, and
has not  within  the two years  immediately  preceding  the date of this Plan of
Merger owned,  directly or indirectly,  any shares of IHS Common Stock or Common
Stock of Merger Sub.

     3.2  Coram  Capital  Stock.  Coram's  authorized  capital  consists  of (i)
75,000,000  shares of  Common  Stock,  par  value  $0.001  per  share,  of which
42,266,867 shares are issued and outstanding as of September 30, 1996 and 48,232
shares are held in treasury and (ii) 10,000,000  shares of Preferred  Stock, par
value  $.001 per share,  none of which are issued  and  outstanding.  All of the
issued and outstanding Coram Shares are duly and validly issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable.  Except as set forth on Exhibit  3.2 to the  Disclosure  Schedule
delivered to IHS by Coram at the time of the execution and delivery of this Plan
of Merger (the "Coram Disclosure Schedule"),  there are no options, warrants, or
similar  rights  granted by Coram or any other  agreements  to which  Coram is a
party  providing  for the issuance or sale by it of any  additional  securities.
There is no liability  for  dividends  declared or  accumulated  but unpaid with
respect to any of the Coram Shares.  Coram has not made any distributions to any
holders of Coram Shares or participated in or effected any issuance, exchange or
retirement of Coram Shares, or otherwise changed the equity interests of holders
of Coram Shares in  contemplation  of effecting  the Merger within the two years
immediately  preceding  the date of this Plan of Merger.  Any Coram  Shares that
Coram has  re-acquired  during the two years  immediately  preceding the date of
this Plan of Merger  have  been so  re-acquired  only for  purposes  other  than
"business combinations",  as such term is defined in Accounting Principles Board
Opinion  No. 16, as amended  ("Business  Combinations").  Except as set forth on
Exhibit  3.2 to the Coram  Disclosure  Schedule,  since  the date of the  "Coram
Balance  Sheet" (as  defined  below),  except  pursuant  to  options,  warrants,
conversion rights or other  contractual  rights existing on such date, Coram has
not  issued  any  shares of its  capital  stock,  effected  any  stock  split or
otherwise changed its capitalization as it existed on such date.

     3.3  Subsidiaries.  Except  as set  forth  on  Exhibit  3.3  to  the  Coram
Disclosure Schedule, Coram does not own stock


                                       -8-

<PAGE>

in and  does  not  control,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  other  corporation,
association or business organization.  Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.3 to the
Coram Disclosure Schedule, Coram does not own, directly or indirectly, an equity
interest  in, and Coram does not  control,  directly  or  indirectly,  any other
operating joint venture, partnership or limited liability company. Except as set
forth on Exhibit 3.3 to the Coram Disclosure Schedule,  there are no outstanding
options, warrants or other agreements pursuant to which any person or entity has
a right to acquire or be issued any capital stock or other interest in any Coram
Subsidiary.  Exhibit 3.3 to the Coram Disclosure  Schedule accurately sets forth
Coram's percentage  ownership interest in each such entity.  Except as set forth
on Exhibit 3.3 to the Coram  Disclosure  Schedule,  each  subsidiary,  direct or
indirect,  of Coram (each a "Coram  Subsidiary"  and,  collectively,  the "Coram
Subsidiaries")  is a corporation,  partnership,  limited  partnership or limited
liability  company duly organized,  validly  existing and in good standing under
the laws of its  jurisdiction of  incorporation.  Except as set forth on Exhibit
3.3 to the Coram  Disclosure  Schedule,  each Coram Subsidiary has all necessary
corporate, partnership, limited partnership or limited liability company, as the
case may be, power to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business
as presently  conducted.  To the  knowledge of Coram,  no Coram  Subsidiary  has
within  the two  years  immediately  preceding  the date of this  Plan of Merger
owned, directly or indirectly, any shares of IHS Common Stock or Common Stock of
Merger Sub. Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.3 to the Coram Disclosure Schedule,
Coram is not subject to any contractual obligation,  contingent or otherwise, to
purchase,  and there are no rights to acquire,  any  additional  interest in any
such  partnership or joint venture or any  preemptive  rights or rights of first
refusal  with respect to any  outstanding  interest in any such  partnership  or
joint venture.

     3.4 Foreign Qualifications. Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.4 to the Coram
Disclosure Schedule, each of Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries is qualified to do
business as a foreign  corporation and is in good standing in each  jurisdiction
where the nature or character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or
the nature of the business transacted by it makes such qualification necessary.

     3.5 Power and  Authority.  Subject to the  satisfaction  of the  conditions
precedent set forth herein, Coram has the


                                       -9-
<PAGE>

corporate  power to execute,  deliver  and  perform  this Plan of Merger and all
agreements  and other  documents  executed  and  delivered or to be executed and
delivered  by  it  pursuant  to  this  Plan  of  Merger,  and,  subject  to  the
satisfaction  of the conditions  precedent set forth herein has taken all action
required by its Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws or otherwise, to authorize
the execution,  delivery and performance of this Plan of Merger and such related
documents.  Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.5 to the Coram Disclosure Schedule,
the execution  and delivery of this Plan of Merger does not and,  subject to the
receipt of required  stockholder approval the consummation of the Merger and the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  will not,  violate any
provisions  of the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or  By-laws  of Coram or any
provisions  of, or result  in the  acceleration  of any  obligation  under,  any
mortgage, lien, lease, agreement, instrument, order, arbitration award, judgment
or decree, to which Coram or any Coram Subsidiary is a party, or by which any of
them is bound, or violate any  restrictions of any kind to which any of them are
subject.  The execution and delivery of this Plan of Merger has been approved by
the Board of Directors of Coram.

     3.6  Reports  and  Financial  Statements.  (a) Coram has  timely  filed all
reports  required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the
"SEC") pursuant to and in accordance  with the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,  the
"Exchange  Act") and the  applicable  rules of the NYSE,  since  January 1, 1995
(collectively,  as  heretofore  amended,  the  "Coram  SEC  Reports"),  and  has
previously  furnished  to IHS true and  complete  copies  of all such  Coram SEC
Reports.   Except  for  certain  information   provided  to  Coram  by  Caremark
International,  Inc., Caremark, Inc. and/or related parties for inclusion in the
Coram SEC Reports, none of such reports, as of their respective dates, contained
any  untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omitted to state a material  fact
required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in
light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.  Each of the
balance sheets  (including the related notes)  included in the Coram SEC Reports
fairly  presents  the  consolidated  financial  position  of Coram and the Coram
Subsidiaries  as  of  the  respective  dates  thereof,  and  the  other  related
consolidated financial statements (including the related notes) included therein
fairly  present  the  results of  operations  and the  changes  in  consolidated
financial position of Coram and the Coram


                                      -10-

<PAGE>

Subsidiaries for the respective  periods or as of the respective dates set forth
therein,  all  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles
consistently  applied during the periods  involved  ("GAAP") except as otherwise
noted therein and, with respect to quarterly  financial  statements,  except for
normal year-end audit adjustments.

     (b) Each of the balance  sheets  included in the "Coram  Monthly  Financial
Statements" (as defined in Section 7.9) fairly presents or will present,  as the
case  may be,  the  consolidated  financial  position  of  Coram  and the  Coram
Subsidiaries  as  of  the  respective  dates  thereof,  and  the  other  related
consolidated  financial  statements  included  therein  fairly  present  or will
present,  as the case may be, the  consolidated  results of  operations  and the
changes in consolidated  financial position of Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole,  for the periods  reflected  therein.  The balance  sheets and
statements of income  included in the Coram Monthly  Financial  Statements  have
been prepared in accordance  with GAAP except for the notes thereto (if any) and
except for normal, quarterly and year-end audit adjustments.

     (c) Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.6 to the Coram Disclosure Schedule and
in  the  notes  to  the  consolidated   financial  statements  and  Management's
Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results of  Operations
included in the Coram SEC  Reports,  there are no  liabilities  of Coram and the
Coram  Subsidiaries on a consolidated  basis required in accordance with GAAP to
be reserved  against or disclosed  in the Coram  Balance  Sheet,  as of the date
thereof which are not so reserved or disclosed.

     (d) Except as disclosed on Exhibit 3.6 to the Coram Disclosure Schedule and
in  the  notes  to  the  consolidated   financial  statements  and  Management's
Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results of  Operations
included  in the  Coram  SEC  Reports,  the  consolidated  financial  statements
included in the Coram SEC Reports and the Coram Monthly Financial  Statements do
not reflect any material  non-recurring or  extraordinary  income not identified
therein.

     3.7  Contracts,  etc. (a) All material  contracts,  leases,  agreements and
arrangements  to which  Coram or any Coram  Subsidiary  is a party  are  legally
valid,  binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and in full force
and effect, and Coram has provided IHS with the opportunity


                                      -11-

<PAGE>

to review and copy all such documents.  Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries and, to
the knowledge of Coram, all other parties to such contracts,  leases, agreements
and  arrangements  have complied with the provisions of such contracts,  leases,
agreements and arrangements,  and, Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries are not and,
to the  knowledge  of Coram,  no other party is, in default  thereunder,  and no
event has occurred which, but for the passage of time or the giving of notice or
both, would constitute a default thereunder.

     (b) Set forth on Exhibit 3.7 to the Coram Disclosure  Schedule is a list of
all  contracts to which Coram or a Coram  Subsidiary  is a party which cannot be
terminated  or do not  terminate  within  12  months  or less  without  cause or
obligate Coram for amounts in excess of $200,000. Except as set forth on Exhibit
3.7 to the Coram Disclosure Schedule, none of such contracts or agreements will,
by its terms,  terminate as a result of the transactions  contemplated hereby or
require  any consent  from any obligor  thereto in order to remain in full force
and effect immediately after the Effective Time.

     (c) Except as set forth on Exhibit  3.7 to the Coram  Disclosure  Schedule,
neither Coram nor any Coram Subsidiary has granted any right of first refusal or
similar  right in favor of any third party with respect to any material  portion
of its  properties  or assets  (excluding  liens  described  in Section  3.8) or
entered into any non-competition  agreement or similar agreement restricting its
ability to engage in any business in any location.

     (d)  True  and  complete   copies  (except  for  pages   containing   price
information, which have been redacted) of the contracts listed on Exhibit 3.7 to
the Coram Disclosure  Schedule have been made available to IHS for inspection in
connection with this Agreement.

     3.8 Properties and Assets.  Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries  collectively
own or lease all of the real and personal property included in the balance sheet
dated as of June 30, 1996 included in the Coram SEC Reports ( the "Coram Balance
Sheet")  (except  assets  recorded  under  capital  lease  obligations  and such
property as has been disposed of in the ordinary course of Coram's and the Coram
Subsidiaries'  business  since the date of the Coram  Balance  Sheet),  free and
clear of any liens,  claims,  charges,  exceptions or  encumbrances,  except for
those  (i) if any,  which in the  aggregate  are not  material  and which do not
materially


                                       12

<PAGE>

affect  continued use of such  property,  or (ii) which are set forth in Exhibit
3.8 to the  Coram  Disclosure  Schedule.  The  assets  of  Coram  and the  Coram
Subsidiaries  are  sufficient  to carry on the business of Coram in the ordinary
course as presently conducted.

     3.9  Legal  Proceedings.  Except  as  listed  on  Exhibit  3.9 to the Coram
Disclosure Schedule,  there are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations
pending or, to the  knowledge of Coram,  threatened  against  Coram or any Coram
Subsidiary,  at law or in equity,  relating to or affecting  Coram or any of the
Coram  Subsidiaries,  including the Merger, and Coram does not have knowledge of
facts from which it should reasonably conclude,  without  investigation,  that a
third party has a basis for asserting any of the foregoing.

     3.10  Subsequent  Events.  Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.10 to the Coram
Disclosure  Schedule or as contemplated  by this Plan of Merger,  Coram has not,
since the date of the Coram Balance Sheet:

          (a) Incurred any material adverse change.

          (b) Discharged or satisfied any material lien or encumbrance,  or paid
     or satisfied  any material  obligation  or  liability  (absolute,  accrued,
     contingent or otherwise)  other than (i) liabilities  shown or reflected on
     the Coram Balance Sheet or (ii) liabilities  incurred since the date of the
     Coram Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business.

          (c)  Increased  or  established  any  reserve  for  taxes or any other
     liability on its books or otherwise provided  therefor,  except as may have
     been  required due to income or  operations  of Coram since the date of the
     Coram Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business.

          (d)  Mortgaged,  pledged  or  subjected  to any lien,  charge or other
     encumbrance  any of the assets,  tangible or intangible,  other than in the
     ordinary course of business.

          (e) Sold,  transferred or acquired any material  assets,  canceled any
     material  debts or claims  or waived  any  material  rights,  except in the
     ordinary course of business.



                                      -13-

<PAGE>



          (f)  Granted  any  general or uniform  increase in the rates of pay of
     employees or granted any material  increase in salary  payable or to become
     payable by Coram to any officer or employee, consultant or agent (except as
     provided by contract  or bonus  plan),  or by means of any bonus or pension
     plan,  contract or other  commitment,  increased in a material  respect the
     compensation  of any  Director,  officer,  employee,  consultant  or agent,
     except for (i) bonuses payable as set forth on Exhibit 3.10(f) to the Coram
     Disclosure Schedule not exceeding  $2,400,000  (exclusive of any such bonus
     to be paid to Donald J.  Amaral in such  amounts as shall be agreed upon by
     Mr.  Amaral and IHS) in the  aggregate  granted or to be granted to certain
     employees  to  seek  to  assure  their   continuance   with  the  Surviving
     Corporation  for a period of time  after the  Effective  Time and to enable
     Coram to satisfy its obligations  hereunder,  including without  limitation
     the "Coram  October 31 Audit" (as defined  below),  (ii) to provide for the
     severance arrangements set forth on Exhibit 3.10(f) to the Coram Disclosure
     Schedule and (iii) the audit bonuses provided for in Section 7.16.

          (g) Except for this Plan of Merger  and any other  agreement  executed
     and delivered pursuant to this Plan of Merger, entered into any transaction
     other than in the  ordinary  course of  business  and  involving  more than
     $250,000  other than as  permitted  under  other  Sections  of this Plan of
     Merger.

          (h) Issued  any stock,  bonds or other  securities  or any  options or
     rights to purchase  any of its  securities  other than in  connection  with
     existing agreements.

          (i) Suffered the loss of,  terminated  or modified any contract  other
     than  in the  ordinary  course  of  business  to  which  Coram  or a  Coram
     Subsidiary is party  involving  more than $250,000 other than in accordance
     with their terms.

          (j)  Declared,  set  aside or paid  any  dividend  or made  any  other
     distribution or payment with respect to any shares of its capital stock or,
     directly or indirectly,  redeemed,  repurchased  or otherwise  acquired any
     shares of its capital stock or made any commitment for any such action.

          (k) Suffered any casualty or loss not covered by insurance.


                                      -14-

<PAGE>

          (l) Made any change in applicable accounting principles.

     3.11 Accounts  Receivable.  The accounts  receivable set forth on the Coram
Balance Sheet, and all accounts  receivable  arising since the date thereof,  in
respect of the business of Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries  represent bona fide
claims of Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries  against debtors for sales,  services
performed or other  charges  arising on or before the date  hereof,  and all the
goods  delivered  and services  performed  which gave rise to said accounts were
delivered  or  performed  in material  compliance  with the  applicable  orders,
contracts or customer  requirements.  Said accounts receivable are subject to no
defenses,  counterclaims  or rights of set-off and are fully  collectible in the
ordinary  course of  business,  except  in the  aggregate  to the  extent of the
appropriate  reserves for doubtful accounts receivable as set forth on the Coram
Balance  Sheet and, in the case of accounts  receivable  arising  since the date
thereof,  in the  aggregate  to the  extent  of a  reasonable  reserve  rate for
doubtful accounts receivable which is not greater than the rate reflected by the
reserve for doubtful accounts on the Coram Balance Sheet.

     3.12  Tax  Returns.  Except  as set  forth  on  Exhibit  3.12 of the  Coram
Disclosure  Schedule,  Coram and each Coram Subsidiary has prepared and filed in
accordance with applicable  laws, rules and regulations all tax returns required
to be filed by it or requests  for  extensions  to file such  returns  have been
timely  filed and  granted and have not expired in  accordance  with  applicable
laws,  rules and  regulations.  Coram  and each  Coram  Subsidiary  has made all
payments  shown as due on such  returns.  Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.12 of
the Coram Disclosure Schedule,  Coram has not been notified that any tax returns
of Coram or any Coram  Subsidiary are currently under audit and no adjustment to
any tax reported or paid has been  asserted by the Internal  Revenue  Service or
any  state or local tax  agency.  No  agreements  have been made by Coram or any
Coram  Subsidiary  for the  extension  of time or the  waiver of the  statute of
limitations for the assessment or payment of any federal,  state or local taxes.
None of Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries  is party to any contract,  agreement,
plan,  or  arrangement  (other than any of the  foregoing  with or in respect of
Donald J. Amaral) that is a tax sharing or allocation  arrangement or that could
give rise to any payment that would not be deductible  under  Sections 162, 280G
or 404 of the Code. True and complete copies of the tax


                                      -15-

<PAGE>

returns  referred to in this  Section  3.12 have been made  available to IHS for
inspection, except that Coram has delivered to IHS only the Forms 1120x and 1139
dated September 30, 1995.

     3.13 Employee Benefit Plans; Employment Matters. (a) Except as set forth on
Exhibit  3.13 to the  Coram  Disclosure  Schedule,  neither  Coram nor any Coram
Subsidiary has established or maintains or is obligated to make contributions to
or under or  otherwise  participate  in (i) any bonus or other type of incentive
compensation plan, program or arrangement (whether or not set forth in a written
document), (ii) any pension,  profit-sharing,  retirement or other plan, program
or  arrangement,  or (iii)  stock  ownership,  stock  purchase,  phantom  stock,
retirement,  vacation, severance,  disability, death benefit, hospitalization or
any other employee benefit plan, fund or program, including, but not limited to,
those described in Section 3(3) of ERISA,  except those permitted or required to
be established hereunder. All such plans listed on Exhibit 3.13 (individually, a
"Coram  Plan" and  collectively,  the "Coram  Plans",)  have been  operated  and
administered in all material respects in accordance with, as applicable,  ERISA,
the Age  Discrimination  in Employment Act of 1967, as amended,  and the related
rules and  regulations  adopted by those federal  agencies  responsible  for the
administration  of such  laws.  No act or  failure  to act by Coram or any Coram
Subsidiary has resulted in a "prohibited transaction" (as defined in ERISA) with
respect to the Coram  Plans that is not  subject to a  statutory  or  regulatory
exception.  No "reportable  event" (as defined in ERISA, but excluding any event
for which  notice is waived  under the  ERISA  regulations)  has  occurred  with
respect to any of the Coram  Plans  which is  subject  to Title IV of ERISA.  No
Coram Plan has any  accumulated  funding  deficiency or liability to the Pension
Benefit Guaranty  Corporation.  Neither Coram nor any of the Coram  Subsidiaries
has previously  made, is currently  making,  or is obligated in any way to make,
any  contributions  to  any  multi-employer  plan  within  the  meaning  of  the
Multi-Employer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1980.

     (b) Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.13 to the Coram  Disclosure  Schedule,
neither  Coram nor any Coram  Subsidiary  is a party to any oral or written  (i)
union, guild or collective bargaining agreement which agreement covers employees
(nor is it aware of any union organizing  activity  currently being conducted in
respect to any of its employees),  (ii) agreement with any executive  officer or
other key employee the benefits of which are contingent, or


                                      -16-

<PAGE>

the terms of which  are  materially  altered  or  permit  termination,  upon the
occurrence of a transaction  of the nature  contemplated  by this Plan of Merger
and which provides for the payment of in excess of $100,000,  or (iii) agreement
or plan,  including  any stock  option  plan,  stock  appreciation  rights plan,
restricted  stock plan or stock purchase plan, any of the benefits of which will
be increased, or the vesting of which will be accelerated,  by the occurrence of
any of the transactions  contemplated by this Plan of Merger or the value of any
of  the  benefits  of  which  will  be  calculated  on the  basis  of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Plan of Merger.

     3.14 Compliance  with Laws in General.  Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.14
to the Coram  Disclosure  Schedule,  neither Coram nor any Coram  Subsidiary has
received any notices from any governmental  authority of material  violations of
any  federal,  state or local laws,  regulations  or  ordinances  ("Governmental
Regulations") relating to its business and operations,  no notice of any pending
inspection  or  violation  of any such law,  regulation  or  ordinance  has been
received from any  governmental  authority by Coram or a Coram  Subsidiary,  and
Coram does not have knowledge of facts from which it should reasonably conclude,
without investigation, that any such material violations exist.

     3.15 Regulatory Approvals. Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.15 to the Coram
Disclosure Schedule, Coram and each Coram Subsidiary,  as applicable,  holds all
licenses,  certificates  of need and  other  regulatory  approvals  required  or
necessary  to be applied  for or  obtained in  connection  with its  business as
presently  conducted or as  presently  proposed to be  conducted.  Except as set
forth on  Exhibit  3.15 to the Coram  Disclosure  Schedule,  all such  licenses,
certificates of need and other  regulatory  approvals  relating to the business,
operations and facilities of Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries are in full force
and effect. Any and all past litigation  concerning such licenses,  certificates
of need and  regulatory  approvals,  and all claims and causes of action  raised
therein,  have been  finally  adjudicated,  and, in the case of such  litigation
finally adjudicated since the date of the Coram Balance Sheet, such adjudication
has not had a material adverse effect on Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries, taken
as a  whole.  Except  as set  forth  on  Exhibit  3.15 to the  Coram  Disclosure
Schedule,  no such license,  certificate of need or regulatory approval has been
revoked,  conditioned (except as may be customary) or restricted,  and no action
(equitable,  legal or administrative),  arbitration or other process is pending,
or


                                      -17-
<PAGE>

to the best  knowledge of Coram,  threatened,  which in any way  challenges  the
validity  of,  or seeks to  revoke,  condition  or  restrict  any such  license,
certificate of need, or regulatory approval. Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.15
to  the  Coram  Disclosure  Schedule,  subject  to  compliance  with  applicable
securities  laws,  the  consummation  of the Merger  will not violate any law or
restriction to which Coram or a Coram Subsidiary is subject.

     3.16 Commissions and Fees.  Except for fees payable to Donaldson,  Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities  Corporation ("DLJ") pursuant to the engagement letter dated
October 4, 1996,  and the fees  payable to UBS  Securities  LLC  pursuant to the
engagement  letter dated October 8, 1996 there are no valid claims for brokerage
commissions  or finder's or similar  fees in  connection  with the  transactions
contemplated  by this Plan of  Merger  which  may be now or  hereafter  asserted
against IHS,  Coram or any Coram  Subsidiary  resulting from any action taken by
Coram or its officers, directors or agents, or any of them.

     3.17 Retirement or  Re-Acquisition  of IHS Common Stock.  Neither Coram nor
any of the Coram  Subsidiaries  is a party to any  agreement the effect of which
would be to require IHS directly or indirectly  to retire or  re-acquire  all or
part of the shares of IHS Common Stock issued pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.

     3.18 Fairness  Opinion.  Coram has received from UBS Securities LLC ("UBS")
an opinion (the "Coram  Fairness  Opinion") dated of even date herewith that the
Merger Consideration is fair to the stockholders from a financial point of view.

     3.19 Vote Required.  The  affirmative  vote of the holders of a majority of
the  outstanding  Coram Shares  entitled to vote thereon is the only vote of the
holders of any class or series of Coram capital stock  necessary to approve this
Plan of Merger, the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby.

     3.20 Compliance with Healthcare  Laws.  Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.20
to the Coram Disclosure Schedule,  (a) Coram, the Coram Subsidiaries and each of
their licensed  employees is in compliance with all applicable  statutes,  laws,
ordinances,  rules,  orders and regulations of any  governmental  authority with
respect  to  regulatory   matters  primarily   relating  to  patient  healthcare
(including without limitation Section 1128B(b) of the Social Security Act, as


                                      -18-
<PAGE>

amended,  42 U.S.C.  Section WP-7(b) (Criminal  Penalties  Involving Medicare or
State Health Care Programs)  commonly referred to as the "Federal  Anti-Kickback
Statute"  and The Social  Security  Act, as  amended,  Section  1877,  42 U.S.C.
Section WP (Prohibition  Against  Certain  Referrals),  commonly  referred to as
"Stark  Statute")  (collectively,   "Healthcare  Laws").  Coram  and  the  Coram
Subsidiaries  have maintained all records  required to be maintained by the Food
and Drug  Administration,  Drug Enforcement  Agency and State Boards of Pharmacy
and the  Medicare  and Medicaid  programs as required by  applicable  Healthcare
Laws,  and,  to  the  knowledge  of  Coram,  there  are  no  presently  existing
circumstances  which would result or likely would result in material  violations
of Healthcare Laws.

     3.21 Medicare and Medicaid Programs.  To the knowledge of Coram,  except as
set forth on Exhibit 3.21 to the Coram Disclosure Schedule,  Coram and the Coram
Subsidiaries,  to the extent  necessary  to conduct  their  business in a manner
consistent with past practice,  are qualified for  participation in Medicare and
Medicaid  programs.  Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.21 to the Coram Disclosure
Schedules or the Coram SEC Reports, (a) Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries have no
liability with respect to recoupment  from the Medicare or Medicaid  programs or
any other third party  reimbursement  source  that would  materially  exceed the
reserves or allowances  made  therefor as set forth on the financial  Statements
included  in the  Coram  Balance  Sheet,  and  Coram  has no  knowledge  for the
assertion  of any such  recoupment  claim  that  arose  out of any  transactions
completed prior to the date hereof except as reflected in the Coram SEC Reports,
and (b) no Medicare or Medicaid investigation, survey or audit is pending or, to
the knowledge of Coram,  threatened with respect to the operation of the current
business  of  Coram  and the  Coram  Subsidiaries,  except  to the  extent  such
investigation, survey or audit is routine and is not reasonably likely to have a
material adverse effect on Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole.
None of Coram,  the Coram  Subsidiaries  or, to the  knowledge  of Coram,  their
licensed  employees has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo  contendere to
any  criminal  offense  related to any Medicare or Medicaid  program  while such
person was an employee of Coram or a Coram  Subsidiary or after the  termination
of such person's  employment by Coram or such subsidiary,  and, to the knowledge
of Coram,  none of such  employees  has committed any offense which may serve as
the basis for suspension or exclusion of Coram or any Coram  Subsidiary from the
Medicare and Medicaid programs.


                                      -19-

<PAGE>


     3.22  Environmental  Matters.  Coram  and  the  Coram  Subsidiaries  are in
compliance with all environmental laws applicable to them and their business and
assets,  including,  without limitation,  the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act of 1976, the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability
Act of 1980,  the Federal Water  Pollution  Control Act (as amended by the Clean
Water Act),  the Federal  Toxic  Substances  Act and the Clean Air Act,  each as
amended to date.

     3.23 Questionable  Payments. To the knowledge of Coram, Coram and the Coram
Subsidiaries have not made, and no officer,  director,  employee, agent or other
representative  of any of them acting on behalf  thereof  has made,  directly or
indirectly,  with respect to the  business of Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries,
any illegal bribes,  kickbacks or other illegal payments of a similar nature, or
illegal  political  contributions  with  corporate  funds  not  recorded  in the
corporate   records  of  Coram,   illegal   payments  from  corporate  funds  to
governmental  officials,  or illegal  payments from corporate funds to obtain or
retain business either within the United States or abroad.

     3.24 Inventory.  Except for inventory that is excess,  damaged or obsolete,
for which Coram has  established  in the  aggregate  an adequate  reserve in the
Coram Balance Sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied, the inventory reflected in the Coram Balance Sheet and not
disposed of or reserved since such date is of good and merchantable  quality, of
a quantity and quality  saleable in the ordinary course of business of Coram and
the Coram Subsidiaries in accordance with past practices,  and is adequate as of
the  date  hereof  for the  business  of Coram  and the  Coram  Subsidiaries  as
conducted as of such date.

     3.25 Equipment.  Equipment used by Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries in the
conduct of their  business is, as of the date  hereof,  taken as a whole in good
and operating condition (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and is sufficient to
carry on the business of Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
as it is presently conducted.

     3.26 No Untrue  Representations.  No  representation  or  warranty  in this
Agreement  contains any untrue  statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact  necessary to make any such  representation  not misleading in any
material respect.


                                      -20-

<PAGE>

     3.27 Insurance.  All material contracts or policies of insurance maintained
by Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries  are set forth on Exhibit 3.7. The policies
or contracts of insurance  maintained  by Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries  are
adequate to cover the business of Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries in accordance
with industry practice.

Section 4. Representations and Warranties of Merger Sub.

     Merger Sub and IHS, jointly and severally,  hereby represent and warrant to
Coram as follows:

     4.1 Organization,  Existence and Capital Stock. Merger Sub is a corporation
duly  organized and validly  existing and is in good standing  under the laws of
the State of Delaware.  Merger Sub's authorized capital consists of 1,000 shares
of Common  Stock,  par value $.01 per share,  all of which shares are issued and
registered  in the  name of  IHS.  Merger  Sub has  not,  within  the two  years
immediately  preceding  the date of this  Plan of  Merger,  owned,  directly  or
indirectly, any Coram Shares.

     4.2 Power and  Authority.  Merger Sub has the  corporate  power to execute,
deliver and perform this Plan of Merger and all agreements  and other  documents
executed and delivered,  or to be executed and delivered, by it pursuant to this
Plan of Merger, and, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set
forth  herein,  has  taken all  actions  required  by law,  its  Certificate  of
Incorporation, its By-laws or otherwise, to authorize the execution and delivery
of this Plan of Merger and such related documents. The execution and delivery of
this Plan of Merger does not and, subject to the receipt of required  regulatory
approvals  and  any  other  required  third-party  consents  or  approvals,  the
consummation of the Merger  contemplated hereby will not, violate any provisions
of the Certificate of  Incorporation or By-laws of Merger Sub, or any agreement,
instrument, order, judgment or decree to which Merger Sub is a party or by which
it is  bound,  violate  any  restrictions  of any  kind to which  Merger  Sub is
subject,  or result in the creation of any lien,  charge or encumbrance upon any
of the property or assets of Merger Sub.

     4.3  Commissions and Fees.  There are no claims for brokerage  commissions,
investment  bankers' fees or finder's fees in  connection  with the  transaction
contemplated  by this Plan of Merger  resulting  from any action taken by Merger
Sub or any of its officers, Directors or agents.


                                      -21-

<PAGE>

     4.4 No Subsidiaries. Merger Sub does not own stock in, and does not control
directly  or  indirectly,   any  other  corporation,   association  or  business
organization. Merger Sub is not a party to any joint venture or partnership.

     4.5 Legal Proceedings.  There are no actions,  suits or proceedings pending
or threatened against Merger Sub, at law or in equity,  relating to or affecting
Merger Sub, including the Merger.

     4.6 No Contracts or Liabilities.  Other than the obligations  created under
this Plan of Merger, Merger Sub has no obligations or liabilities (contingent or
otherwise) under any contracts, claims, leases, loans or otherwise.

Section 5. Representations and Warranties of IHS.

     IHS hereby represents and warrants to Coram as follows:

     5.1  Organization,  Existence and Good Standing.  IHS is a corporation duly
organized  and validly  existing and is in good  standing  under the laws of the
State of Delaware.  IHS has all necessary  corporate power to own its properties
and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted.  IHS is not, and
has not been within the two years immediately preceding the date of this Plan of
Merger,  a subsidiary  or division of another  corporation,  and,  except as set
forth on Exhibit  5.1 to the IHS  Disclosure  Schedule,  IHS has not within such
time owned, directly or indirectly, any Coram Shares.

     5.2 IHS Capitalization.  IHS has an authorized capitalization of 15,000,000
shares of  Preferred  Stock,  par value $.01 per  share,  of which no shares are
issued and  outstanding,  and no shares are held in  treasury,  and  150,000,000
shares of Common Stock,  par value $.001 per share, of which  23,117,934  shares
were issued and  outstanding  at September  30, 1996,  and no shares are held in
treasury. All of the issued and outstanding shares of IHS Common Stock have been
duly and  validly  issued  and are  fully  paid  and  nonassessable.  Except  as
disclosed on Exhibit 5.2 to the IHS  Disclosure  Schedule  delivered to Coram at
the  time of the  execution  and  delivery  of this  Plan of  Merger  (the  "IHS
Disclosure Schedule"),  there are no options, warrants or similar rights granted
by IHS or any  other  agreements  to  which  IHS is a  party  providing  for the
issuance or sale by it of any additional  securities.  There is no liability for
dividends  declared or accumulated  but unpaid with respect to any shares of IHS
Common Stock. IHS


                                      -22-

<PAGE>

has not made any distributions to any holder of IHS Common Stock or participated
in or effected any issuance,  exchange or  retirement  of IHS Common  Stock,  or
otherwise  changed  the equity  interests  of holders  of IHS Common  Stock,  in
contemplation of effecting the Merger within the two years immediately preceding
the date of this Plan of Merger.  Any  shares of IHS  Common  Stock that IHS has
re-acquired during the two years immediately  preceding the date of this Plan of
Merger  have  been  so  re-acquired   only  for  purposes  other  than  Business
Combinations. Except as set forth on Exhibit 5.2 to the IHS Disclosure Schedule,
since the date of the "IHS Balance Sheet" (as defined below), except pursuant to
options,  warrants,  conversion rights or other  contractual  rights existing on
such date,  IHS has not issued any shares of its  capital  stock,  effected  any
stock split or otherwise changed its capitalization as it existed on such date.

     5.3 IHS Common  Stock.  On the  Closing  Date,  IHS will have a  sufficient
number of authorized  but unissued  and/or  treasury  shares of its Common Stock
available  for  issuance to the holders of Coram Shares in  accordance  with the
provisions of this Plan of Merger. The IHS Common Stock to be issued pursuant to
this Plan of Merger will,  when so  delivered,  be (i) duly and validly  issued,
fully paid and nonassessable,  (ii) issued pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),
and (iii) listed on the NYSE, upon official notice of issuance.

     5.4  Organization,  Existence and Good Standing of IHS  Subsidiaries.  Each
operating  subsidiary of IHS (each an "IHS  Subsidiary" and,  collectively,  the
"IHS  Subsidiaries")  is a corporation  duly organized,  validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation.  Each IHS Subsidiary
has all necessary  corporate power to own its properties and assets and to carry
on its business as presently conducted.

     5.5 Foreign Qualifications.  IHS and each IHS Subsidiary is qualified to do
business as a foreign  corporation and is in good standing in each  jurisdiction
where the nature or character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or
the nature of the business transacted by it makes such qualification necessary.

     5.6 Merger Sub Common Stock. IHS owns,  beneficially and of record,  all of
the issued and outstanding  shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of
Merger Sub (the "Merger Sub Common Stock"), which are validly issued and


                                      -23-
<PAGE>


outstanding,  fully  paid and  nonassessable,  free and  clear of all  liens and
encumbrances.  IHS has the corporate  power to endorse and surrender such shares
of Merger Sub Common Stock for conversion  pursuant to this Plan of Merger.  IHS
has,  or will by the  Effective  Time  have,  taken all such  actions  as may be
required in its  capacity as the sole  stockholder  of Merger Sub to approve the
Merger.

     5.7 Power and Authority.  IHS has corporate  power to execute,  deliver and
perform this Plan of Merger and all agreements and other documents  executed and
delivered,  or to be  executed  and  delivered,  by it  pursuant to this Plan of
Merger,  and, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions  precedent set forth
herein has taken all actions required by law, its Certificate of  Incorporation,
its By-laws or  otherwise,  to authorize the execution and delivery of this Plan
of Merger and such related documents. The execution and delivery of this Plan of
Merger does not and, except for the lender and bondholder  consents  referred to
in  Sections  9.1(i) and  9.1(j),  respectively,  and  subject to the receipt of
required  regulatory  approvals and any other required  third-party  consents or
approvals,  the  consummation  of the Merger and the  transactions  contemplated
hereby will not,  violate any provisions of the Certificate of  Incorporation or
By-laws  of IHS,  or any  provision  of, or result  in the  acceleration  of any
obligation  under, any mortgage,  lien,  lease,  agreement,  instrument,  order,
arbitration  award,  judgment or decree to which IHS or any IHS  Subsidiary is a
party or by which any of them is bound, or violate any  restrictions of any kind
to which any of them is  subject.  The  execution  and  delivery of this Plan of
Merger has been approved by the Board of Directors of IHS.

     5.8 Reports and Financial Statements.  (a) IHS has timely filed all reports
required  to be  filed  with  the SEC  pursuant  to and in  accordance  with the
Exchange Act since January 1, 1995 (collectively, the "IHS SEC Reports") and the
applicable  rules of the NYSE, and has  previously  furnished to Coram with true
and complete  copies of all such IHS SEC Reports.  None of such  reports,  as of
their  respective  dates,  contained any untrue  statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to
make the statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances in which they were
made, not misleading.  Each of the balance sheets  (including the related notes)
included in the IHS SEC Reports  fairly  presents in all  material  respects the
consolidated  financial  position  of IHS  and the  IHS  Subsidiaries  as of the
respective dates thereof, and the other related statements


                                      -24-

<PAGE>

(including  the related notes)  included  therein fairly present in all material
respects the results of  operations  and the changes in  consolidated  financial
position of IHS and the IHS Subsidiaries for the respective periods or as of the
respective  dates set  forth  therein,  all in  conformity  with GAAP  except as
otherwise noted therein.

     (b) Except as set forth on Exhibit  5.8(b) to the IHS  Disclosure  Schedule
and in the  notes to the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  Management's
Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results of  Operations
included in the IHS SEC  Reports,  there are no  liabilities  of IHS and the IHS
Subsidiaries  on a  consolidated  basis  required in accordance  with GAAP to be
reserved  against or disclosed  in the IHS Balance  Sheet as of the date thereof
which are not so reserved or disclosed.

     (c) Except as disclosed on Exhibit  5.8(c) to the IHS  Disclosure  Schedule
and in the  notes to the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  Management's
Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results of  Operations
included in the IHS SEC Reports, the consolidated  financial statements included
in  the  IHS  SEC  Reports  do  not  reflect  any  material   non-recurring   or
extraordinary income not identified therein.

     5.9  Legal  Proceedings.  Except  as set  forth on  Exhibit  5.9 to the IHS
Disclosure Schedule, there is no pending or threatened litigation,  governmental
investigation,  condemnation  or other  proceeding  against  or  relating  to or
affecting IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or the  transactions
contemplated by this Plan of Merger for which IHS is uninsured, and IHS does not
have  knowledge  of facts  from  which it should  reasonably  conclude,  without
investigation,  that  a  third  party  has a  basis  for  asserting  any  of the
foregoing.

     5.10  Subsequent  Events.  Except as set forth on  Exhibit  5.10 to the IHS
Disclosure Schedule,  IHS has not, since the date of the balance sheet of IHS as
of June 30, 1996 included in the IHS SEC Reports (the "IHS Balance Sheet"):

          (a) Incurred any material adverse change.

          (b) Except for this Plan of Merger  and any other  agreement  executed
     and  delivered  pursuant to this Plan of Merger,  entered into any material
     transaction other than in the ordinary course of


                                      -25-
<PAGE>


          business or permitted under other Sections of this Plan of Merger.

     5.11 Compliance with Laws in General. IHS and the IHS Subsidiaries have not
received from any governmental  authority any notices of material  violations of
any federal,  state and local laws,  regulations and ordinances  relating to its
business and operations, and no notice of any pending inspection or violation of
any  such  law,  regulation  or  ordinance  has  been  received  by IHS from any
governmental  authority  which,  if it  were  determined  that a  violation  had
occurred,  would have a material  adverse  effect on IHS,  and IHS does not have
knowledge  of  facts  from  which  it  should   reasonably   conclude,   without
investigation, that any such material violations exist.

     5.12  Regulatory  Approvals.  IHS and each IHS  Subsidiary,  as applicable,
holds all licenses, certificates of need and other regulatory approvals required
or  necessary to be applied for or obtained in  connection  with its business as
presently conducted or as proposed to be conducted,  except where the failure to
obtain such license, certificate of need or regulatory approval would not have a
material adverse effect on IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole. All
such licenses,  certificates of need and other regulatory  approvals relating to
the business,  operations and facilities of IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries are in
full force and effect, except where any failure of such license,  certificate of
need or  regulatory  approval  to be in full force and  effect  would not have a
material adverse effect on IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole. Any
and all past  litigation  concerning  such  licenses,  certificates  of need and
regulatory approvals,  and all claims and causes of action raised therein which,
if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect on IHS and the IHS
Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, have been finally adjudicated. No such license,
certificate of need or regulatory approval has been revoked, conditioned (except
as may be  customary)  or  restricted  in any manner which would have a material
adverse effect on IHS and the IHS Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, and no action
(equitable,  legal or administrative),  arbitration or other process is pending,
or to the best  knowledge of IHS,  threatened,  which in any way  challenges the
validity  of,  or seeks to  revoke,  condition  or  restrict  any such  license,
certificate  of  need,  or  regulatory  approval.  Subject  to  compliance  with
applicable securities laws and the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976 (the "HSR Act"), the consummation of the Merger will not violate any law
or


                                      -26-

<PAGE>

restriction  to which IHS or an IHS  Subsidiary is subject  which,  if violated,
would have a material adverse effect on IHS and the IHS Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.

     5.13  Contracts,  etc.  All  material  contracts,  leases,  agreements  and
arrangements to which IHS is a party are legally valid,  binding and enforceable
in  accordance  with their terms and in full force and  effect.  IHS and the IHS
Subsidiaries  and, to the knowledge of IHS, all other parties to such contracts,
leases,  agreements and  arrangements  have complied with the provisions of such
contracts,   leases,   agreements  and  arrangements,   and,  IHS  and  the  IHS
Subsidiaries are not in default thereunder, and no event has occurred which, but
for the  passage of time or the  giving of notice or both,  would  constitute  a
default  thereunder,  except,  in each case,  where the invalidity of the lease,
contract,  agreement  or  arrangement  or the  default or breach  thereunder  or
thereof would not,  individually  or in the aggregate,  have a material  adverse
effect on IHS and the IHS Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     5.14 Accounts Receivable.  Since the date of the IHS Balance Sheet, IHS has
not changed  any  principle  or  practice  with  respect to the  recordation  of
accounts  receivable,   calculation  of  reserves  therefor,   or  any  material
collection,  discount or write-off  policy or procedure.  IHS is in  substantial
compliance with the terms and conditions of all third-party  payor  arrangements
relating to its accounts receivable.

     5.15  Commissions  and Fees.  Except for fees payable to Smith Barney Inc.,
there are no claims for  brokerage  commissions,  *investment  bankers'  fees or
finder's fees in connection with the  transactions  contemplated by this Plan of
Merger resulting from any action taken by IHS or any of its officers,  Directors
or agents.

     5.16 Retirement or  Re-Acquisition of IHS Common Stock. None of IHS and the
IHS  Subsidiaries  has agreed directly or indirectly to retire or re-acquire all
or part of the shares of IHS Common Stock issued pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.

     5.17 Opinion of IHS  Financial  Advisor.  The Board of Directors of IHS has
received from Smith Barney Inc. ("Smith  Barney"),  financial advisor to IHS, an
opinion (the "IHS  Fairness  Opinion")  dated the date of this Plan of Merger to
the effect  that,  as of such  date,  the  Exchange  Ratio is fair to IHS from a
financial point of view.


                                      -27-

<PAGE>

     5.18 Compliance with Healthcare Laws. (a) IHS, each IHS Subsidiary and each
of their  licensed  employees is in compliance  with all  applicable  Healthcare
Laws,  except  where  the  failure  to be in such  compliance  would  not have a
material adverse effect on IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole. IHS
has  maintained  all  records  required  to be  maintained  by the Food and Drug
Administration,  Drug  Enforcement  Agency and State  Boards of Pharmacy and the
Medicare and Medicaid  programs as required by applicable  Healthcare Laws, and,
to the knowledge of IHS,  there are no presently  existing  circumstances  which
would result or likely would result in material  violations of Healthcare  Laws,
except where the failure to maintain such records or said  violations  would not
have a  material  adverse  effect  on IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries,  taken as a
whole.

     5.19 Medicare and Medicaid Programs.  IHS and the IHS Subsidiaries,  to the
extent  necessary to conduct  their  business in a manner  consistent  with past
practice, are qualified for participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs. IHS
and the IHS  Subsidiaries  have no liability with respect to recoupment from the
Medicare or Medicaid programs or any other third party reimbursement source that
would materially exceed the reserves or allowances made therefor as set forth on
the  financial  statements  included  in the IHS Balance  Sheet,  and IHS has no
knowledge of the  assertion of any such  recoupment  claim that arose out of any
transactions  completed  prior to the date hereof except as reflected in the IHS
SEC Reports. No Medicare or Medicaid  investigation,  survey or audit is pending
or, to the  knowledge of IHS,  threatened  with respect to the  operation of the
current  business  of IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries,  except to the extent  such
investigation, survey or audit is routine and is not reasonably likely to have a
material  adverse  effect  on IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries,  taken  as a whole.
Except as set forth on Exhibit  5.19 to the IHS  Disclosure  Schedules,  none of
IHS, the IHS Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of IHS, their licensed  employees
has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any criminal offense
related to any Medicare or Medicaid program while such person was an employee of
IHS or an IHS Subsidiary or after the termination of such person's employment by
IHS or such subsidiary, and, to the knowledge of IHS, none of such employees has
committed any offense  which may serve as the basis for  suspension or exclusion
of IHS from the Medicare and Medicaid  programs which,  in the aggregate,  would
have a  material  adverse  effect  on IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries,  taken as a
whole.



                                      -28-

<PAGE>

     5.20  Environmental  Matters.  To the  knowledge  of  IHS,  IHS and the IHS
Subsidiaries  are in compliance with all  environmental  laws applicable to them
and their  business  and assets,  including,  without  limitation,  the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, the Comprehensive  Environmental Response
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Federal Water Pollution  Control Act
(as amended by the Clean Water Act),  the Federal Toxic  Substances  Act and the
Clean Air Act, each as amended to date,  which,  in the aggregate,  would have a
material adverse effect on IHS and the IHS Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     5.21  Questionable  Payments.  To the  knowledge  of  IHS,  IHS and the IHS
Subsidiaries have not made, and no officer,  director,  employee, agent or other
representative  of any of them acting on behalf  thereof  has made,  directly or
indirectly,  with respect to the business of IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries,  any
illegal  bribes,  kickbacks or other illegal  payments of a similar  nature,  or
illegal  political  contributions  with  corporate  funds  not  recorded  in the
corporate  records of IHS, illegal payments from corporate funds to governmental
officials, or illegal payments from corporate funds to obtain or retain business
either within the United States or abroad.

     5.22 No Untrue  Representations.  No  representation  or  warranty  in this
Agreement  contains any untrue  statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact  necessary to make any such  representation  not misleading in any
material respect.

Section 6. Access to Information and Documents.

     6.1 Access to  Information.  (a)  Between  the date  hereof and the Closing
Date,   Coram  will  give  to  IHS  and  its  counsel,   accountants  and  other
representatives  full  access  to  all  the  properties,  documents,  contracts,
personnel  files and other records of Coram and shall furnish IHS with copies of
such documents and with such information with respect to the affairs of Coram as
IHS may from time to time  reasonably  request.  Coram will  disclose to IHS and
make  available  to the  other and its  representatives  all  books,  contracts,
accounts, personnel records, letters of intent, papers, records,  communications
with regulatory  authorities  and other  documents  relating to the business and
operations of Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries.  In addition,  Coram shall make
available to IHS all such banking, investment and financial information as shall
be  necessary  to  allow  for the  efficient  integration  of  Coram's  banking,
investment and


                                      -29-

<PAGE>

financial  arrangements  with those of IHS at the Effective Time.  Access of IHS
pursuant to the  foregoing  shall be  initiated  and  coordinated  only  through
Richard Smith,  Paul Quiner or such other persons as Coram may from time to time
designate.  All such  access  shall be  granted  at a  reasonable  time and upon
reasonable notice.

     (b) Between the date  hereof and the Closing  Date,  IHS will give to Coram
and its counsel,  accountants and other representatives reasonable access to all
the properties,  material  contracts filed with the SEC and other records of IHS
and shall furnish Coram with copies of such documents and with such  information
with  respect to the  affairs  of IHS as Coram may from time to time  reasonably
request. IHS will make reasonably available to Coram and its representatives all
material contracts filed with the SEC, books, accounts, records,  communications
with regulatory  authorities  and other  documents  relating to the business and
operations  of IHS and the IHS  Subsidiaries.  Access of Coram  pursuant  to the
foregoing  shall be initiated and  coordinated  only through Brian K.  Davidson,
Eleanor  Harding,  Marshall A. Elkins,  Brad Bennet or such other persons as IHS
may from time to time designate. All such access such be granted at a reasonable
time and upon reasonable notice.

     6.2 Return of  Records.  If the  transactions  contemplated  hereby are not
consummated  and this Plan of Merger  terminates,  each party agrees promptly to
return upon request all documents, contracts, records or properties of the other
party and all copies thereof furnished  pursuant to this Section 6 or otherwise.
All information disclosed by any party or any affiliate or representative of any
party  shall be  deemed  to be  "Evaluation  Material"  under  the  terms of the
Confidentiality  Agreements,  dated  September  13, 1996 and  October 15,  1996,
respectively, between Coram and IHS (the "Confidentiality Agreements").

     6.3 Effect of Access.  (a)  Nothing  contained  in this  Section 6 shall be
deemed  to create  any duty or  responsibility  on the part of  either  party to
investigate or evaluate the value,  validity or  enforceability of any contract,
lease or other asset included in the assets of the other party.

     (b)  With  respect  to  matters  as to which  any  party  has made  express
representations or warranties herein, the parties shall be entitled to rely upon
such express  representations and warranties  irrespective of any investigations
made by such parties, except to the extent


                                      -30-
<PAGE>

that such  investigations  result  in  actual  knowledge  of the  inaccuracy  or
falsehood of particular representations and warranties.

Section 7. Covenants.

     7.1  Preservation  of  Business.   Prior  to  the  Effective  Time  or  the
termination of this  Agreement,  Coram will conduct its business in the ordinary
course. Coram will use its commercially  reasonable best efforts to preserve the
business  organization  of  Coram  intact,  to  keep  available  to IHS  and the
Surviving  Corporation  the services of the present  employees of Coram,  and to
preserve for IHS and the Surviving  Corporation  the goodwill of the  suppliers,
customers and others having business relations with Coram.

     7.2 Material Transactions. Prior to the Effective Time, Coram will not, and
will not  permit  any  Coram  Subsidiary  to (in  each  case  other  than (i) as
contemplated  by the  terms  of the  Plan  of  Merger  and the  other  documents
contemplated  hereby,  (ii) with  respect to  transactions  for which there is a
binding  commitment  existing  prior to the date hereof  disclosed  in the Coram
Disclosure  Schedules,  (iii)  the  transactions  contemplated  by that  certain
Memorandum of Understanding  concerning the settlement of lawsuits  captioned In
re Coram Healthcare Corp. Securities  Litigation,  Master File No. 95-N-2074 and
Shevde v.  Sweeney et al.,  Civil  Action  No.  96-N-722  and (iv)  transactions
described  on Exhibit  7.2 to the Coram  Disclosure  Schedule  which do not vary
materially  from the terms set forth on such  Exhibit  7.2),  or in the ordinary
course of business without first obtaining the written consent of IHS:

          (a)  Encumber  any  asset or enter  into any  transaction  or make any
     contract or commitment  relating to the properties,  assets and business of
     Coram,  other  than in the  ordinary  course of  business  or as  otherwise
     disclosed herein.

          (b) Enter into any employment  contract  which is not terminable  upon
     notice of 90 days or less, at will, and without  penalty except as provided
     herein.

          (c)  Enter  into  any  contract  or  agreement  which  (i)  cannot  be
     terminated or does not terminate  within 12 months or less without cause or
     (ii) obligates Coram for amounts in excess of $200,000.


                                      -31-

<PAGE>

          (d) Make any payment or  distribution  to the trustee under any bonus,
     pension,  profit-sharing or retirement plan or incur any obligation to make
     any such payment or  contribution  which is not in accordance  with Coram's
     usual past  practice,  or make any  payment or  contributions  or incur any
     obligation  pursuant  to or in  respect of any other  plan or  contract  or
     arrangement   providing   for   bonuses,   options,   executive   incentive
     compensation,   pensions,   deferred  compensation,   retirement  payments,
     profit-sharing or the like, establish or enter into any such plan, contract
     or  arrangement,  or terminate  or modify any plan,  except for (i) bonuses
     which may be  granted  by the Board of  Directors  to  certain  members  of
     Coram's  management in anticipation of the Merger not exceeding  $2,400,000
     in the  aggregate  (exclusive  of any such  bonus to be paid to  Donald  J.
     Amaral in such  amounts as shall be agreed upon by Mr.  Amaral and IHS) and
     (ii) the severance  arrangements  set forth on Exhibit 3.10(f) to the Coram
     Disclosure Schedule.

          (e)  Guarantee  the  obligation  of any person,  firm or  corporation,
     except in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practices.

          (f) Amend its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws.

          (g) Except pursuant to options,  warrants,  conversion rights or other
     contractual  rights  disclosed  on  Exhibit  3.2  to the  Coram  Disclosure
     Schedule,  issue any shares of its capital stock, effect any stock split or
     otherwise change its capitalization.

          (h) Take any action of a  character  described  in Section  3.10(a) to
     3.10(h), inclusive.

     7.3 Meetings of  Stockholders.  (a) Coram will take all steps  necessary in
accordance  with its  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and By-laws to call,  give
notice  of,  convene  and  hold  a  meeting  of  its  stockholders  (the  "Coram
Stockholders  Meeting") as soon as practicable  after the  effectiveness  of the
Registration  Statement  (as defined in Section 7.4 hereof),  for the purpose of
approving  this Plan of Merger and for such other  purposes as may be necessary.
Unless  this Plan of Merger  shall  have been  validly  terminated  as  provided
herein,  the Board of Directors of Coram  (subject to the  provisions of Section
8.1 (d) hereof) will (i) recommend to its stockholders the approval of this


                                      -32-

<PAGE>

Plan of Merger, the transactions contemplated hereby and any other matters to be
submitted to the  stockholders of Coram in connection  therewith,  to the extent
that such  approval is required by  applicable  law in order to  consummate  the
Merger,  and (ii) use its reasonable,  good faith efforts to obtain the approval
by its  stockholders  of this Plan of Merger and the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.

     (b) IHS will take all steps necessary in accordance with its Certificate of
Incorporation and By-laws to call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of
its stockholders (the "IHS  Stockholders  Meeting") as soon as practicable after
the  effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement  (as  defined in Section 7.4
hereof),  for the  purpose of  approving  this Plan of Merger and for such other
purposes as may be necessary. Unless this Plan of Merger shall have been validly
terminated  as provided  herein,  the Board of  Directors of IHS (subject to the
provisions of Section 8.1(f) hereof) will (i) recommend to its  stockholders the
approval of this Plan of Merger,  the transactions  contemplated  hereby and any
other  matters  to be  submitted  to  the  stockholders  of  IHS  in  connection
therewith,  to the extent that such  approval is required by  applicable  law in
order to consummate the Merger, and (ii) use its reasonable,  good faith efforts
to obtain  the  approval  by its  stockholders  of this  Plan of Merger  and the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     7.4 Registration Statement. (a) IHS shall prepare and file with the SEC and
any other  applicable  regulatory  bodies,  as soon as reasonably  practicable a
Registration  Statement  on Form S-4 with  respect  to the  shares of IHS Common
Stock to be  issued  in the  Merger  (the  "Registration  Statement"),  and will
otherwise  proceed  promptly to satisfy the  requirements of the Securities Act.
Such  Registration  Statement  shall contain a joint proxy  statement of IHS and
Coram  (the  "Proxy  Statement")  containing  the  information  required  by the
Exchange  Act.  IHS shall take all  reasonable  steps to cause the  Registration
Statement to be declared effective and to maintain such effectiveness  until all
of the shares covered thereby have been distributed. IHS shall promptly amend or
supplement the  Registration  Statement to the extent necessary in order to make
the statements therein not misleading or to correct any misstatements which have
become false or misleading;  provided that if such  statements or  misstatements
accurately  reflect  information  supplied  for  inclusion  in the  Registration
Statement by Coram,  such obligation shall adhere only upon Coram's supplying to
IHS corrective information, which Coram hereby agrees to provide


                                      -33-

<PAGE>

promptly.  IHS and Coram  shall  use their  respective  reasonable,  good  faith
efforts to have the Proxy Statement  approved by the SEC under the provisions of
the  Exchange  Act.  IHS shall  provide  Coram with copies of all  filings  made
pursuant to this  Section 7.4 and shall  consult  with Coram on responses to any
comments made by the Staff of the SEC with respect thereto.

     (b) Coram covenants that the information supplied by Coram for inclusion in
the Registration  Statement shall not, at the time the Registration Statement is
declared effective,  at the time any amendment or supplement thereto is declared
effective,  at the time the Proxy  Statement is first mailed to holders of Coram
Common Stock and IHS Common Stock, at the time of the Stockholders  Meetings and
at the Effective Time,  contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order
to make  the  statements  therein,  not  misleading.  Coram  covenants  that the
information supplied by Coram for inclusion in the Proxy Statement shall not, at
the date the Proxy Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is
first mailed to holders of Coram Common Stock and IHS Common Stock,  at the time
any amendment or supplement  thereto is declared  effective,  at the time of the
Stockholders Meetings and at the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or  necessary  in order  to make the  statements  therein,  in the  light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. If at any time prior to
the Effective Time any event or circumstance  relating to Coram, or its officers
or  Directors,  should be  discovered  by Coram which  should-be set forth in an
amendment to the Registration  Statement or a supplement to the Proxy Statement,
Coram shall  promptly  inform IHS. Coram  covenants that all documents,  if any,
that  Coram  is  responsible  for  filing  with the SEC in  connection  with the
transactions  contemplated  herein will comply as to form and  substance  in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the
rules  and  regulations  thereunder  and the  Exchange  Act and  the  rules  and
regulations thereunder.

     (c) IHS covenants that the information supplied by IHS for inclusion in the
Registration  Statement  shall not, at the time the  Registration  Statement  is
declared effective,  at the time any amendment or supplement thereto is declared
effective,  at the time the Proxy  Statement is first mailed to holders of Coram
Common Stock and IHS Common Stock, at


                                      -34-

<PAGE>

the time of the  Stockholders  Meetings and at the Effective  Time,  contain any
untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements  therein,  not
misleading. The information supplied by IHS for inclusion in the Proxy Statement
to be sent to the  holders  of  Coram  Common  Stock  and IHS  Common  Stock  in
connection  with the  Stockholders  Meetings  shall  not,  at the date the Proxy
Statement  (or any amendment  thereof or supplement  thereto) is first mailed to
holders  of  Coram  Common  Stock  and  IHS  Common  Stock,  at the  time of the
Stockholders Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material  fact required to be stated  therein
or  necessary  in  order  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in  light  of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading.  If at any time prior
to the Effective Time any event or circumstance  relating to IHS or its officers
or  directors,  should  be  discovered  by IHS  which  should be set forth in an
amendment to the Registration  Statement or a supplement to the Proxy Statement,
IHS shall  promptly  inform Coram and shall  promptly file such amendment to the
Registration  Statement.  All documents that IHS is responsible  for filing with
the SEC in connection with the transactions  contemplated  herein will comply as
to form and substance in all material respects with the applicable  requirements
of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations  thereunder and the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

     (d) Prior to the Closing  Date,  IHS shall use its  reasonable,  good faith
efforts  to cause the shares of IHS Common  Stock to be issued  pursuant  to the
Merger to be registered or qualified under all applicable securities or Blue Sky
laws of each of the states and territories of the United States, and to take any
other actions which may be necessary to enable the IHS Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Merger to be distributed in each such jurisdiction.

     (e)  Prior  to the  Closing  Date,  IHS  shall  file a  Subsequent  Listing
Application  with the NYSE  relating  to the  shares of IHS  Common  Stock to be
issued in  connection  with the Merger,  and shall use its best efforts to cause
such  shares of IHS Common  Stock to be approved  for listing on the NYSE,  upon
official notice of issuance, prior to the Closing Date.


                                      -35-

<PAGE>

     (f) Coram shall furnish all information to IHS with respect to Coram as IHS
may reasonably  request for inclusion in or in connection with the  Registration
Statement,  the Proxy  Statement and shall  otherwise  cooperate with IHS in the
preparation and filing of such documents.

     7.5 Exemption  from State  Takeover  Laws.  Coram shall take all reasonable
steps necessary and within its power to exempt the Merger from the  requirements
of any state takeover  statute or other similar state law which would prevent or
impede the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  by action of
Coram's Board of Directors.

     7.6 HSR Act Compliance.  IHS and Coram shall promptly make their respective
filings,  and shall  thereafter  use their  reasonable,  good  faith  efforts to
promptly  make any required  submissions,  under the HSR Act with respect to the
Merger and the transactions  contemplated  hereby.  IHS and Coram will use their
respective  reasonable,   good  faith  efforts  to  obtain  all  other  permits,
authorizations,  consents  and  approvals  from third  parties and  governmental
authorities necessary to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated
hereby.

     7.7 Public  Disclosures.  IHS and Coram will consult with each other before
issuing any press release or otherwise  making any public statement with respect
to the transactions contemplated by this Plan of Merger, and shall not issue any
such press release or make any such public statement prior to such  consultation
except as may be required by applicable  law or  requirements  of the NYSE.  The
parties shall issue a joint press release, mutually acceptable to IHS and Coram,
promptly upon execution and delivery of this Plan of Merger.

     7.8 Resignation of Coram Directors and Executive  Officers.  On or prior to
the Closing Date, Coram shall deliver to IHS evidence satisfactory to IHS of the
resignation of the Directors and executive  officers of Coram, such resignations
to be effective on the Closing Date.

     7.9 Monthly Financial Statements; Exchange Act Reports. (a) Coram covenants
that prior to the Effective Time or earlier  termination of this  Agreement,  it
will deliver to IHS a balance  sheet,  income  statement  and  statement of cash
in-flow and cash out-flow as of and for (i) the one-month period ending the last
day of each month subsequent to the


                                      -36-

<PAGE>

date of this Agreement that is not the last month of a fiscal quarter  (together
with such statements for July 1996 and August 1996 previously  delivered to IHS,
the "Coram Monthly  Financial  Statements"),  that such  consolidated  financial
statements  will be  delivered  within  30 days  following  the end of each such
month,  and (ii) the three  month  period  ending on the last day of each fiscal
quarter,  which quarterly  statement will be delivered  within 30 days following
the end of each such quarter and will be limited to Coram's good faith  estimate
of the information included as of and for such period.

     (b) Coram  covenants that from and after the date hereof,  it will file all
periodic  reports  required  to be filed by it under the  Exchange  Act and will
promptly  deliver to IHS all such  reports and  supporting  internal  management
relating thereto.

     (c) IHS  covenants  that from and after the date  hereof,  it will file all
periodic  reports  required  to be filed by it under the  Exchange  Act and will
promptly deliver to Coram all such reports.

     7.10 No Solicitations.  From the date of this Agreement until the Effective
Time or until this Agreement is terminated in accordance  with Section 8 hereof,
Coram shall not initiate,  solicit or encourage  (including by way of furnishing
assistance or proprietary information),  or take any other action to facilitate,
any inquiries or the making of any proposal  relating to, or that may reasonably
be expected to lead to, any "Coram Competing Transaction" (as defined below), or
enter into any discussions or negotiate with any person or entity in furtherance
of such  inquiries or to obtain a Coram  Competing  Transaction,  or agree to or
endorse  any Coram  Competing  Transaction,  or  authorize  or permit any of the
officers,  directors  or  employees  of Coram or the Coram  Subsidiaries  or any
investment   banker,   financial   advisor,   attorney,   accountant   or  other
representative  retained  by  Coram  or any  Coram  Subsidiary  to take any such
action, and Coram shall promptly notify IHS of all relevant terms (including the
identity of the parties  involved) of any such inquiries and proposals  received
by Coram or any  Coram  Subsidiary  or any such  officer,  director,  investment
banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other representative relating
to any of such  matters and if such  inquiry or  proposal  is in writing,  Coram
shall promptly deliver or cause to be delivered to IHS a copy of such inquiry or
proposal;  provided,  however, that, prior to the receipt of the approval of the
Merger of Coram's


                                      -37-

<PAGE>

stockholders  at the  Coram  Stockholders  Meeting,  nothing  contained  in this
Section 7.10 shall  prohibit the Board of Directors of Coram from (i) furnishing
information to, or entering into discussions or negotiations with, any person or
entity in  connection  with an  unsolicited  bona fide  offer by such  person or
entity to acquire Coram  pursuant to a merger,  consolidation,  share  exchange,
business combination or other similar transaction or to acquire greater than 50%
of the  assets  of Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  to the
extent and only to the extent that (A) the Board of  Directors  of Coram,  after
consultation with and based upon advice of independent legal counsel, determines
in good faith that such action is  advisable  for Coram's  Board of Directors to
comply  with  its  fiduciary  duties  under  applicable  law  and (B)  prior  to
furnishing  such  information  to, or entering into  discussions or negotiations
with,  such person or entity Coram (x) provides notice to IHS to the effect that
it is furnishing  information  to, or entering into  discussions or negotiations
with, such person or entity and (y) enters into a confidentiality agreement with
such person or entity  reasonably  calculated  under the  circumstances,  in the
reasonable  judgment  of  Coram,  to  protect  the  confidentiality  of  Coram's
proprietary information; or (ii) complying with Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the
Exchange Act with regard to a Coram Competing  Transaction.  For the purposes of
this Agreement,  "Coram Competing  Transaction"  shall mean any of the following
(other than the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement)  involving Coram:
(i) any merger,  consolidation,  share exchange, business combination or similar
transaction; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition  of 40% or more of the  assets of Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole;  (iii) any tender offer or exchange offer for more than 50% of
the outstanding  shares of the capital stock of Coram; (iv) any person acquiring
beneficial  ownership  of, or any group (as such term is defined  under  Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act) being formed which beneficially owns or has the right
to acquire beneficial ownership of, 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the
capital stock of Coram; or (v) any public  announcement  of a proposal,  plan or
intention to do any of the  foregoing  or any  agreement to engage in any of the
foregoing.

     7.11 Other Actions.  Subject to the provisions of Section 7.10 hereof, none
of Coram, IHS and Merger Sub shall knowingly or  intentionally  take any action,
or omit to take any  action,  if such action or omission  would,  or  reasonably
might be expected to, result in any of its representations


                                      -38-

<PAGE>

and  warranties  set forth  herein  being or  becoming  untrue  in any  material
respect,  or in any of the  conditions  to the  Merger set forth in this Plan of
Merger not being  satisfied,  or delay the Effective Time or (unless such action
is  required by  applicable  law) which would  materially  adversely  affect the
ability of Coram or IHS to obtain any  consents or  approvals  required  for the
consummation  of the Merger  without  imposition  of a condition or  restriction
which would have a material adverse effect on the Surviving Corporation or which
would otherwise  materially impair the ability of Coram or IHS to consummate the
Merger in accordance  with the terms of this Plan of Merger or materially  delay
such consummation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Coram shall
use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all consents required of third parties
in respect of the Merger  under all  material  contracts  to which  Coram or any
Coram Subsidiary is a party,  including without limitation lessor consents under
the lease of Coram's corporate headquarters and all pharmacy leases.

     7.12  Accounting  Methods.  Prior to  Closing,  neither IHS nor Coram shall
change, in any material respect, its methods of accounting in effect at its most
recent  fiscal year end,  except as required  by changes in  generally  accepted
accounting principles as concurred by such parties' independent accountants.

     7.13 Pooling and Tax-Free Reorganization  Treatment.  Neither IHS nor Coram
shall  intentionally take or cause to be taken any action,  whether on or before
the  Effective  Time,  which  would  disqualify  the  Merger  as a  "pooling  of
interests" for accounting  purposes or as a "reorganization"  within the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Code.

     7.14  Affiliate and Pooling  Agreements.  IHS and Coram will each use their
respective  reasonable,  good faith  efforts  to cause each of their  respective
Directors  and  executive  officers  and each of their  respective  "affiliates"
(within the meaning of Rule 145 under the Securities Act) to execute and deliver
to IHS as soon as practicable an agreement in the form reasonably  acceptable to
IHS and Coram  relating to the  disposition  of shares of Coram Common Stock and
shares of IHS  Common  Stock  held by such  person  and the shares of IHS Common
Stock issuable pursuant to this Plan of Merger.

     7.15  Cooperation.  (a) IHS and Coram  shall  together,  or  pursuant to an
allocation  of  responsibility  agreed to between them,  (i) cooperate  with one
another in determining


                                      -39-

<PAGE>

whether any filings are required to be made or consents  required to be obtained
in  any  jurisdiction  prior  to the  Effective  Time  in  connection  with  the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and cooperate in making any
such filings  promptly and in seeking to obtain timely any such  consents,  (ii)
use their respective  commercially  reasonable efforts to cause to be lifted any
injunction   prohibiting  the  Merger,  or  any  part  thereof,   or  the  other
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and (iii) furnish to one another and to one
another's  counsel  all  such  information  as may be  required  to  effect  the
foregoing actions.

     (b) Subject to the terms and conditions  herein  provided,  and unless this
Plan of Merger shall have been validly  terminated as provided  herein,  each of
IHS and  Coram  shall use all  reasonable  efforts  (i) to take,  or cause to be
taken,  all actions  necessary to comply  promptly  with all legal  requirements
which may be imposed on such party (or any  subsidiaries  or  affiliates of such
party) with  respect to the Plan of Merger and to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  subject to the vote of its stockholders  described above,
and (ii) to  obtain  (and to  cooperate  with the  other  party to  obtain)  any
consent,  authorization,  order  or  approval  of,  or  any  exemption  by,  any
governmental  entity  and/or any other  public or private  third  party which is
required  to be  obtained  or made by such party or any of its  subsidiaries  or
affiliates  in  connection  with  this  Plan  of  Merger  and  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  each of IHS and Coram  will  promptly  cooperate  with and
furnish information to the other in connection with any such burden suffered by,
or  requirement  imposed upon,  either of them or any of their  subsidiaries  or
affiliates in connection with the foregoing.

     (c) IHS shall use its best efforts to secure all consents required pursuant
to outstanding convertible debt and subordinated debentures of IHS.

     7.16  October 31,  1996  Audit.  Coram  shall  prepare in  accordance  with
generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  and shall  have done an audit (the
"Coram October 31 Audit") by KMPG Peat Marwick LLP of its consolidated financial
statements dated as of and for the ten month period ending October 31, 1996. IHS
agrees that it will bear the expense  equal to the sum of the amount  charged by
KMPG Peat  Marwick  LLP to  perform  the Coram  October  31 Audit and the amount
charged  by  Ernst &  Young  LLP to  perform  the  audit  of  Coram's  financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 1996 (the "Year-end Audit"), less the
amount Ernst & Young LLP


                                      -40-

<PAGE>

would have charged to perform the  Year-end  Audit had KMPG Peat Marwick LLP not
performed the Coram October 31 Audit.  Notwithstanding  anything in this Plan of
Merger to the contrary,  IHS and Merger Sub acknowledge and agree that Coram may
pay cash audit  bonuses in an  aggregate  amount not to exceed  $150,000  to its
accounting staff in connection with the Coram October 31 Audit.

     7.17 Tax  Opinions.  The parties  hereto  shall use their  reasonable  best
efforts to cause counsel for each of IHS and Coram to render  opinions as to the
federal income tax consequences of the Merger,  which opinions shall be filed as
Exhibits to the  Registration  Statement.  Each of IHS and Coram  agrees that it
shall provide certificates containing reasonable representations to such counsel
in connection with the rendering of such opinions.

     7.18 Employee Stock Options;  Warrants.  (a) Each holder of an option (each
herein referred to as a "Coram  Option")  granted by Coram to purchase shares of
Common  Stock  pursuant  to any stock  option  plan or plans of the  Company  or
otherwise  (collectively the "Coram Stock Option Plans") that is outstanding and
unexercised  immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall receive,  in lieu of
each such  Coram  Option,  an  option to  purchase  IHS  Shares (a  "Substituted
Option")  under a stock option plan  maintained by IHS, in  accordance  with the
Coram Stock Option Plan or stock option agreement  governing each such option in
an amount and at an exercise price as determined below.

     (b) The number of shares,  the exercise  price and the terms and conditions
of a Substituted  Option shall be determined in a manner that preserves both (1)
the aggregate gain (or loss) on the Coram Option  immediately  prior to the time
of  substitution,  and (2) the ratio of the  exercise  price per share of Common
Stock  subject  to  the  Coram  Option  to the  fair  market  value  (determined
immediately  prior to the time of  substitution)  per share subject to the Coram
Option;  provided,  however,  that in the case of any  Coram  Option  that is an
"inventive  stock option" as defined in section 422 of the Code,  the adjustment
described  above shall be, and is  intended to be,  effected in a manner that is
consistent  with section 424(a) of the Code. The duration and other terms of the
new option shall be the same as the original option,  except that all references
to Coram shall be deemed to be  references to IHS. IHS shall file with the SEC a
registration   statement  on  Form  S-8  (or  other   appropriate   form)  or  a
post-effective   amendment  to  the   Registration   Statement  as  promptly  as
practicable after the


                                      -41-

<PAGE>

Effective  Time, for purposes of registering  all IHS Shares  issuable after the
Effective Time upon exercise of the Substituted  Options, and use all reasonable
efforts to have such registration  statement or post-effective  amendment become
effective and to comply, to the extent applicable, with state securities or blue
sky laws with respect hereto at the Effective Time. Unless otherwise  prohibited
by law,  such Form S-8 shall also  register the reoffer and resale by affiliates
of IHS of the IHS  Shares  issuable  to such  affiliates  upon  exercise  of the
Substituted  Options.  IHS shall maintain the effectiveness under the Securities
Act of such  Form S-8  registration  statement  as long as any such  affiliates'
options remain outstanding.

     (c) Coram will take such  reasonable  steps as are  necessary to effectuate
the agreements of this Section 7.18.

     7.19 Notice of Subsequent Events.  Each party hereto shall notify the other
parties  of any  changes,  additions  or  events  of which  they  have or obtain
knowledge as to which they have  concluded or reasonably  should have  concluded
would cause any  material  change in or material  addition to any Exhibit to its
Disclosure  Schedule delivered by the notifying party under this Plan of Merger,
or otherwise would in such party's reasonable judgment likely result in a breach
of this  Agreement by such party prior to the Closing Date,  promptly  after the
occurrence of the same.

     7.20 Caremark  Litigation.  Coram agrees that, promptly upon the request of
IHS, it will enter into the  agreement  with  Caremark  International,  Inc. and
Caremark, Inc. in the form of Exhibit 7.20 attached hereto.

Section 8. Termination, Amendment and Waiver.

     8.1 Termination. This Plan of Merger may be terminated at any time prior to
the  Effective  Time,  either before or after  approval of matters  presented in
connection  with the Merger by the holders of Coram  Common Stock and IHS Common
Stock:

          (a) by mutual written consent of IHS, Merger Sub and Coram;

          (b) by either IHS or Coram:

               (i) if, upon a vote at a duly held meeting of stockholders or any
          adjournment thereof, any approval of the holders of Coram Common Stock


                                      -42-

<PAGE>

          necessary to consummate the Merger and the  transactions  contemplated
          hereby shall not have been obtained;

               (ii) if, upon a vote at a duly held  meeting of  stockholders  or
          any  adjournment  thereof,  any  approval of the holders of IHS Common
          Stock  necessary  to  consummate  the  Merger  and  the   transactions
          contemplated hereby shall not have been obtained;

               (iii) if the Merger shall not have been  consummated on or before
          March 31,  1997,  unless the failure to  consummate  the Merger is the
          result of a willful and material  breach of this Plan of Merger by the
          party  seeking to terminate  this Plan of Merger,  provided,  however,
          that the passage of such period  shall be tolled for any part  thereof
          (but not  exceeding 60 days in the  aggregate)  during which any party
          shall be  subject  to a  nonfinal  order,  decree,  ruling  or  action
          restraining,  enjoining or otherwise  prohibiting the  consummation of
          the Merger or the calling or holding of a meeting of stockholders;

               (iv) if any court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental
          entity shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other
          action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the
          Merger  and such  order,  decree,  ruling or other  action  shall have
          become final and nonappealable;

               (v)  in  the  event  of a  breach  by  the  other  party  of  any
          representation,  warranty,  covenant or other  agreement  contained in
          this Plan of Merger  which  exists on the Closing  Date (A) would give
          rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section  9.2(a) or (b)
          or Section 9.3(a) or (b), as applicable,  and (B) cannot be or has not
          been cured  within 30 days  after the giving of written  notice to the
          breaching  party of such breach (a "Material  Breach")  (provided that
          the  terminating   party  is  not  then  in  Material  Breach  of  any
          representation,  warranty,  covenant or other  agreement  contained in
          this Plan of Merger);

               (vi) in the event of (i) notice  pursuant  to  Section  7.19 of a
          breach by the other party of any


                                      -43-

<PAGE>

          representation,  warranty,  covenant or other  agreement  contained in
          this Plan of Merger or (ii)  notice from such party to the other party
          of such other party's breach of any representation, warranty, covenant
          or other  agreement  contained in this Plan of Merger,  in either case
          which  cannot be or has not been cured within 30 days after the giving
          of written  notice of such breach to or by the other  party  (provided
          that  the  terminating  party is not then in  Material  Breach  of any
          representation,  warranty,  covenant or other  agreement  contained in
          this Plan of Merger); or

          (c) by either IHS or Coram in the event that (i) all of the conditions
     to the  obligation  of such party to effect the Merger set forth in Section
     9.1 shall have been  satisfied and (ii) any condition to the  obligation of
     such party to effect  the  Merger set forth in Section  9.2 (in the case of
     IHS) or Section 9.3 (in the case of Coram)is not capable of being satisfied
     prior to the end of the period referred to in Section 8.1(b)(iii);

          (d) by Coram, if Coram's Board of Directors shall have (i) determined,
     in the  exercise of its  fiduciary  duties  under  applicable  law,  not to
     recommend the Merger to the holders of Coram Shares or shall have withdrawn
     such  recommendation  or (ii)  approved,  recommended or endorsed any Coram
     Competing  Transaction  other than this Plan of Merger or (iii) resolved to
     do any of the foregoing;

          (e) by IHS if (i) the  Board of  Directors  of Coram  fails to make or
     withdraws  its  recommendation  of the  adoption of this  Agreement  or the
     Merger;  (ii) the Board of  Directors  of Coram shall have  recommended  to
     Coram's  stockholders  any Coram  Competing  Transaction or entered into an
     agreement with respect to a Coram Competing Transaction;  or (iii) a tender
     offer  or  exchange  offer  for 50% or more of the  outstanding  shares  of
     capital  stock of Coram is  commenced,  and the Board of Directors of Coram
     recommends,  within the time  period  specified  under Rule 14e-2 under the
     Exchange  Act,  that  Coram's  stockholders  tender  their shares into such
     tender or exchange offer;

          (f) by IHS, if IHS's Board of Directors shall have (i) determined,  in
     the exercise of its fiduciary duties under applicable law, not to recommend
     the Merger to the holders of IHS Shares or shall have withdrawn such


                                      -44-

<PAGE>

     recommendation or (ii) approved, recommended or endorsed any "IHS Competing
     Transaction"  (as  defined  below)  other than this Plan of Merger or (iii)
     resolved  to do any of the  foregoing.  For the  purpose  of  this  Section
     8.1(f),  the  term  "IHS  Competing  Transaction"  shall  mean  any  of the
     following  (other than the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement)
     involving  IHS: (i) any merger,  consolidation,  share  exchange,  business
     combination  or  similar  transaction;  (ii)  any  sale,  lease,  exchange,
     mortgage,  pledge,  transfer  or  other  disposition  of 40% or more of the
     assets of IHS and the IHS Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole; (iii) any tender
     offer or exchange offer for more than 50% of the outstanding  shares of the
     capital stock of IHS; (iv) any person acquiring beneficial ownership of, or
     any group (as such term is defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act)
     being formed which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial
     ownership of, 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of
     IHS; or (v) any public announcement of a proposal,  plan or intention to do
     any of the foregoing or any agreement to engage in any of the foregoing;

          (g) by  Coram  if the  Board  of  Directors  of IHS  fails  to make or
     withdraws  its  recommendation  of the  adoption of this  Agreement  or the
     Merger;

          (h) by IHS if there shall have occurred  prior to the  Effective  Time
     changes  in  generally  accepted   accounting   principles  or  changes  in
     applicable law that, in the aggregate, shall have a material adverse effect
     on the business of Coram and the Coram Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     8.2  Effect of  Termination.  In the event of  termination  of this Plan of
Merger as provided in Section 8.1,  this Plan of Merger shall  forthwith  become
void and have no effect,  without any liability or obligation on the part of any
party, other than the provisions of Sections 6.2, 8.2 and 8.6, and except to the
extent that such  termination  results from the willful and material breach by a
party of any of its representations,  warranties,  covenants or other agreements
set forth in this Plan of Merger.

     8.3  Amendment.  This Plan of Merger may be  amended by the  parties at any
time before or after any required  approval of matters  presented in  connection
with the Merger by the holders of Coram Shares or IHS Shares; provided, however,
that after any such approval, there shall be made


                                      -45-

<PAGE>

no  amendment  that  pursuant  to the DGCL  requires  further  approval  by such
stockholders.  This Plan of Merger may not be amended except by an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of each of the parties.

     8.4 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties
may (a) extend the time for the  performance of any of the  obligations or other
acts of the other parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties  contained  in  this  Plan of  Merger  or in any  document  delivered
pursuant to this Plan of Merger or (c)  subject to the  proviso of Section  8.3,
waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Plan
of Merger.  Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver
shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of
such party.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  if the Merger is
not  consummated  on or prior to March 31, 1997 as a result of the  Registration
Statement  not having been  declared  effective by the SEC by February 15, 1997,
and the Registration  has been declared  effective by such date or Coram and IHS
are in bona fide discussions  with the SEC regarding the Registration  Statement
and diligently pursuing the effectiveness of the Registration Statement with the
SEC,  then the date set forth in Section  8.1(b)(iii)  shall be  extended to the
earlier of May 31, 1997 and the date that is thirty (30) days following the date
on which the Registration  Statement is declared  effective.  The failure of any
party to this  Plan of Merger to assert  any of its  rights  under  this Plan of
Merger or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

     8.5  Procedure  for   Termination,   Amendment,   Extension  or  Waiver.  A
termination of this Plan of Merger pursuant to Section 8.1, an amendment of this
Plan of Merger  pursuant to Section 8.3, or an  extension or waiver  pursuant to
Section 8.4 shall, in order to be effective,  require in the case of IHS, Merger
Sub or Coram,  action by its Board of Directors or the duly authorized  designee
of the Board of Directors.

     8.6  Expenses;  Breakup  Fees.  (a) All  costs  and  expenses  incurred  in
connection  with this Plan of Merger and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby
shall be paid by the party incurring such expense,  it being  understood that if
the Merger is  consummated,  by reason  thereof,  IHS will  indirectly  bear the
expenses incurred by Coram.

     (b) If the Merger is not  consummated  as a result of  termination  of this
Agreement pursuant to Sections 8.1(d)


                                      -46-

<PAGE>

(other than a  termination  pursuant  to Section  8.1(d)(i)  resulting  from the
failure of UBS to deliver the Coram  Fairness  Opinion as of the date of mailing
of the  Proxy  Statement,  so long as such  failure  does not  arise  out of the
existence of a Coram Competing  Transaction)  8.1(e)(ii) or 8.1(e)(iii)  hereof,
Coram  shall  pay IHS a breakup  fee in the  amount of  Seventeen  Million  Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars  ($17,500,000) plus all expenses reasonably incurred by
IHS in  connection  with this Plan of Merger and  collection of such fee. If the
above breakup fee is paid as set forth above, such payment shall be the sole and
exclusive remedy of IHS against Coram hereunder.

     (c) If the Merger is not  consummated  as a result of  termination  of this
Agreement  pursuant  to Section  8.1(f)  (other than a  termination  pursuant to
Section  8.1(f)(i)  resulting from the adverse  modification or withdrawal as of
the date of the mailing of the Proxy Statement of the IHS Fairness  Opinion,  so
long as such  modification  or withdrawal does not arise out of the existence of
an IHS Competing  Transaction)  hereof, IHS shall pay Coram a breakup fee in the
amount of Seventeen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($17,500,000) plus all
expenses reasonably incurred by Coram in connection with this Plan of Merger and
collection  of such fee. If the above  breakup  fee is paid as set forth  above,
such  payment  shall be the sole  and  exclusive  remedy  of Coram  against  IHS
hereunder.

Section 9. Conditions to Closing.

     9.1 Mutual Conditions.  The respective  obligations of each party to effect
the  Merger  shall be subject to the  satisfaction,  at or prior to the  Closing
Date, of the following conditions (any of which may be waived in writing by IHS,
Merger Sub and Coram):

          (a)  None of IHS,  Merger  Sub or Coram  nor any of  their  respective
     subsidiaries shall be subject to any order, decree or injunction by a court
     of  competent  jurisdiction  which (i)  prevents or  materially  delays the
     consummation of the Merger or (ii) would impose any material  limitation on
     the ability of IHS  effectively to exercise full rights of ownership of the
     Common Stock of the Surviving  Corporation  or any material  portion of the
     assets or business of Coram, taken as a whole.

          (b) No  statute,  rule or  regulation  shall have been  enacted by the
     government (or any governmental  agency) of the United States or any state,
     municipality or other


                                      -47-

<PAGE>

     political  subdivision thereof that makes the consummation of the Merger or
     any other significant transaction contemplated hereby illegal.

          (c) The holders of shares of Coram Common Stock and the holders of the
     shares of IHS Common  Stock each shall have  approved  the adoption of this
     Plan of Merger and any other  matters  required  to be  approved by them in
     accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

          (d) The shares of IHS Common Stock to be issued in connection with the
     Merger  shall have been  approved  for listing on the NYSE,  upon  official
     notice of issuance, and shall have been issued in transactions qualified or
     exempt from  registration  under applicable  securities or Blue Sky laws of
     such states and territories of the United States as may be required.

          (e) IHS and Coram shall each have  received a letter from each of KMPG
     Peat  Marwick  LLP and  Ernst & Young  LLP dated on each of the date of the
     mailing of the Proxy  Statement and the Closing Date to the effect that the
     Merger shall  qualify for "pooling of  interests"  accounting  treatment if
     consummated in accordance with the Plan of Merger.

          (f) The Registration  Statement shall have been declared effective and
     no stop  order  with  respect  to the  Registration  Statement  shall be in
     effect.

          (g) IHS,  Merger  Sub and Coram  shall  have  received  all  consents,
     approvals  and  authorizations  of third  parties that are required of such
     third  parties  prior  to the  consummation  of the  Merger,  in  form  and
     substance  acceptable to IHS or Coram, as the case may be, except where the
     failure to obtain such consent,  approval or authorization would not have a
     material adverse effect on the business of the Surviving Corporation.

          (h) All approvals of the Merger  required under the HSR Act shall have
     been obtained or the waiting periods thereunder shall have expired.

          (i) The parties  shall have  obtained  consents from their senior bank
     lenders to the Merger and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby not later
     than November 15, 1996.


                                      -48-

<PAGE>

          (j) IHS shall have received all  necessary  consents of the holders of
     convertible debt and subordinated debentures of IHS.

     9.2 Conditions to Obligations of IHS and Merger Sub. The obligations of IHS
and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions  contemplated
hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing Date, of
the following conditions (any of which may be waived by IHS and Merger Sub):

          (a) Each of the agreements of Coram to be performed at or prior to the
     Closing Date pursuant to the terms hereof shall have been duly performed in
     all  material  respects,  and Coram shall have  performed,  in all material
     respects, all of the acts required to be performed by it at or prior to the
     Closing Date by the terms hereof.

          (b) The representations and warranties of Coram set forth in Article 3
     hereof  shall be true and correct as of the date of this Plan of Merger and
     as of the  Closing  Date,  except to the extent  such  representations  and
     warranties  expressly  relate  to a  specific  date  (in  which  case  such
     representations  and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date);
     provided,  however,  that Coram  shall not be deemed to be in breach of any
     such  representations  or  warranties  (i)  where the  inaccuracies  of all
     representations  contained in Article 3 hereof would not, in the aggregate,
     have a material adverse effect on Coram and the Coram  Subsidiaries,  taken
     as a whole or (ii) as a result of the consequences  that IHS knew or should
     have known would arise from the taking of any action  permitted to be taken
     by Coram (or  otherwise  approved by IHS) under  Section  7.2 or  otherwise
     permitted  herein;  and  provided,   further,   that   notwithstanding  the
     foregoing, Coram shall be deemed to be in breach of such representations or
     warranties  if the  representations  or  warranties  set  forth in  Section
     3.21(b) shall not be true and correct as of such dates.  IHS and Merger Sub
     shall have been furnished with a certificate, executed by a duly authorized
     officer of Coram, dated the Closing Date,  certifying in such detail as IHS
     and  Merger  Sub  may  reasonably  request  as to  the  fulfillment  of the
     foregoing conditions.

          (c) IHS and Merger Sub shall have  obtained,  or obtained the transfer
     of, any  licenses and other  regulatory  approvals  necessary  prior to the
     Effective


                                      -49-

<PAGE>

     Time to allow the Surviving Corporation to operate Coram's business, unless
     the failure to obtain such  transfer or approval  would not have a material
     adverse effect on Coram.

          (d) IHS shall have  received  an opinion  from its tax  counsel to the
     effect that the Merger will constitute a reorganization  within the meaning
     of  Section  368  (a) of the  Code  of  which  opinion  may be  based  upon
     reasonable  representations  of fact provided by officers of IHS, Coram and
     Merger Sub.

          (e) IHS shall have received an opinion from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky &
     Walker LLP substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit 9.2(e) hereto.

          (f) All consents, authorizations,  orders and approvals of (or filings
     or  registrations  with)  any  governmental  commission,   board  or  other
     regulatory  body required in connection  with the  execution,  delivery and
     performance of this Plan of Merger shall have been obtained or made, except
     for filings in connection with the Merger and any other documents  required
     to be filed after the Effective Time.

          (g) IHS shall have received "Affiliate Letters" as provided in Section
     7.14 herein from each of the affiliates of Coram.

          (h) The opinion of Smith Barney Inc. referenced in Section 5.17 hereof
     shall not have been  adversely  modified or withdrawn as of the date of the
     mailing of the Proxy Statement.

          (i) The persons listed on Schedule  9.2(i) shall have agreed to remain
     in the employ of Coram for a period of six months  following  the Effective
     Time.

          (j) IHS shall have received a "cold comfort" letter from Ernst & Young
     LLP,  Coram's  independent  accountants,   dated  the  Effective  Time  and
     addressed to IHS, as to such matters reasonably requested by IHS.

          (k) KMPG Peat Marwick LLP shall have  completed  and  delivered to IHS
     and Coram its audit of Coram's consolidated  financial statements as of and
     for the ten (10) month period ending October 31, 1996.


                                      -50-

<PAGE>

          (l) Those Coram  Subsidiaries  identified  on Exhibit 3.3 to the Coram
     Disclosure  Schedule as not being in good standing  under the laws of their
     respective  jurisdictions of incorporation shall have been restored to good
     standing thereunder, and those Coram Subsidiaries identified on Exhibit 3.4
     shall be qualified to do business in the states listed thereon.

          (m) execution by Donald J. Amaral of an employment  agreement  between
     him and IHS embodying  the terms set forth in that certain  letter from Dr.
     Robert Elkins to Mr. Amaral dated October 17, 1996.

     9.3   Conditions  to  Obligations  of Coram.  The  obligations  of Coram to
consummate the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby shall be
subject to the  satisfaction,  at or prior to the Closing Date, of the following
conditions (any of which may be waived by Coram):

          (a) Each of the agreements of IHS and Merger Sub to be performed at or
     prior to the Closing Date pursuant to the terms hereof shall have been duly
     performed,  in all  material  respects,  and IHS and  Merger Sub shall have
     performed,  in  all  material  respects,  all of the  acts  required  to be
     performed by them at or prior to the Closing Date by the terms hereof.

          (b) The representations and warranties of IHS and Merger Sub set forth
     in Articles 4 and 5 hereof shall be true and correct as of the date of this
     Plan of Merger,  and as of the  Closing  Date,  except to the  extent  such
     representations  and  warranties  expressly  relate to a specific  date (in
     which case such representations and warranties shall be true and as of such
     date);  provided,  however, that IHS shall not be deemed to be in breach of
     any such  representations  or warranties (i) where the  inaccuracies of all
     representations and warranties  contained in Article 5 hereof would not, in
     the  aggregate,  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  IHS  and  the  IHS
     Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) as a result of the consequences that
     Coram knew or should  have known  would arise from the taking of any action
     permitted  hereunder to be taken by IHS (or  otherwise  approved by Coram);
     and provided,  further,  that  notwithstanding  the foregoing,  (i) IHS and
     Merger  Sub shall be deemed  to be in  breach  of such  representations  or
     warranties  if any of the  representations  set  forth in  Article 4 hereof
     shall not be true and correct in all  material  respects and (ii) IHS shall
     be deemed to be in breach of such


                                      -51-

<PAGE>


     representations  or warranties  if the  representations  or warranties  set
     forth in Sections 5.12, 5.13, 5.18 or 5.19 shall not be true and correct as
     of such dates.

          (c) Coram shall have received an opinion from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky
     & Walker LLP to the effect that the Merger will constitute a reorganization
     with the meaning of Section  368(a) of the Code which  opinion may be based
     upon reasonable  representations of fact provided by officers of IHS, Coram
     and Merger Sub.

          (d) Coram and its stockholders shall have received an opinion from UBS
     Securities  LLC opining  that the Merger  Consideration  is fair to Coram's
     stockholders from a financial point of view.

          (e)  Coram  shall  have  received  an  opinion  from  Blass  &  Driggs
     substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit 9.3(e) hereto.

          (f) Coram and its stockholders  shall have received an updated opinion
     of UBS  Securities  LLC dated the date of the  mailing  of the Joint  Proxy
     Statement  opining  that  the  Merger  Consideration  is fair to the  Coram
     stockholders from a financial point of view and such opinion shall not have
     been adversely modified or withdrawn.

          (g) All consents, authorizations,  orders and approvals of (or filings
     or  registrations  with)  any  governmental  commission,   board  or  other
     regulatory  body required in connection  with the  execution,  delivery and
     performance of this Plan of Merger shall have been obtained or made, except
     for filings in connection with the Merger and any other documents  required
     to be filed after the Effective Time.

          (h) Coram  shall have  received a letter from KMPG Peat  Marwick  LLP,
     IHS's  independent  accountants,  dated the Effective Time and addressed to
     Coram, as to such matters reasonably requested by Coram.



Section 10. Miscellaneous.

     10.1   Nonsurvival  of   Representations   and  Warranties.   None  of  the
representations and warranties in this Plan of


                                      -52-

<PAGE>

Merger or in any  instrument  delivered  pursuant  to this Plan of Merger  shall
survive the Effective Time.

     10.2 Notices. Any communications  required or desired to be given hereunder
shall be deemed  to have  been  properly  given if sent by hand  delivery  or by
facsimile and overnight  courier or overnight  courier to the parties  hereto at
the following addresses, or at such other address as either party may advise the
other in writing from time to time:

                If to IHS:

                        Integrated Health Services, Inc.
                        10065 Red Run Boulevard
                        Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
                        Attention: Brian Davidson

                with a copy to:

                        Integrated Health Services, Inc.
                        10065 Red Run Boulevard
                        Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
                        Attention: Marshall Elkins, Esq.

                        and

                        Blass & Driggs
                        461 Fifth Avenue
                        New York, NY  10017
                        Facsimile: (212) 447-5428
                        Attention: Michael S. Blass

                If to Coram:

                        Coram Healthcare Corporation
                        1125 Seventeenth Street,Suite 2100
                        Denver, Colorado 80202
                        Facsimile: (303) 672-8799
                        Attention: Donald J. Amaral

                with a copy to:

                        Coram Healthcare Corporation
                        1121 Alderman Drive
                        Alpharetta, Georgia 30102
                        Facsimile: (770) 442-2177
                        Attention: Paul Quiner, Esq.

                        and


                                      -53-

<PAGE>

                        Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
                        555 South Flower Street, Suite 2300
                        Los Angeles, California 90071
                        Facsimile: (213) 627-0705
                        Attention: David L. Gersh, Esq.

All such  communications  shall be deemed to have been  delivered on the date of
hand  delivery or facsimile or on the next business day following the deposit of
such communications with the overnight courier.

     10.3 Further  Assurances.  Each party hereby  agrees to perform any further
acts and to execute and deliver any documents which may be reasonably  necessary
to carry out the provisions of this Plan of Merger.

     10.4  Indemnification.  (a) IHS and Merger Sub shall advance legal fees and
expenses and indemnify  current or former directors or officers of Coram for all
acts or omissions  occurring  prior to the Effective Time as provided in Coram's
Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws or  indemnification  agreements in effect
as of the date hereof,  and such obligations  shall survive the Merger and shall
continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms. The provisions
of this  Section  10.4 are  intended  to be for the  benefit  of,  and  shall be
enforceable by, each such indemnified  party and each such  indemnified  party's
heirs and representatives.

     (b) IHS shall  cause to be  maintained  in effect  for a period  ending not
sooner than the fifth anniversary of the Effective Time directors' and officers'
liability insurance providing at least the same coverage with respect to Coram's
officers and  directors as the policies  maintained  on behalf of directors  and
officers of Coram as of the date hereof,  and  containing  terms and  conditions
which are no less advantageous, with respect to matters occurring on or prior to
the Effective  Time (to the extent such  insurance is available  with respect to
such  matters).   Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  from  and  after  the  third
anniversary  of the  Effective  Time,  IHS shall not be obligated to provide any
greater  officers'  and  directors'  liability  insurance  than  that  generally
afforded to officers and directors of IHS under policies  maintained by IHS with
respect to its directors and officers.

     10.5 Governing Law. This Plan of Merger shall be interpreted, construed and
enforced in accordance with the


                                      -54-

<PAGE>

laws  of  the  State  of  Delaware,   applied   without  giving  effect  to  any
conflicts-of-law principles.

     10.6  "Including".  The  word  "including",   when  following  any  general
statement,  term or matter, shall not be construed to limit such statement, term
or matter to the specific terms or matters as provided immediately following the
word  "including,,  or to similar items or matters,  whether or not non-limiting
language  (such as  "without  limitation",  "but not  limited  to",  or words of
similar  import) is used with  reference to the word  "including" or the similar
items or  matters,  but  rather  shall be deemed to refer to all other  items or
matters that could  reasonably  fall within the broadest  possible  scope of the
general statement, term or matter.

     10.7 "Knowledge".  "To the knowledge", "to the best knowledge,  information
and belief",  or any similar phrase shall be deemed to refer to the knowledge of
the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive  Officer,  Chief Financial Officer or
General  Counsel of a party and to include the assurance  that such knowledge is
based upon a reasonable investigation, unless otherwise expressly provided.

     10.8 "Material  adverse  change" or "material  adverse  effect".  "Material
adverse change" or "material adverse effect" means, when used in connection with
Coram or IHS, any change, effect, event or occurrence that has, or is reasonably
likely to have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a material adverse impact on
the assets,  business or financial  position of such party and its  subsidiaries
taken  as a  whole;  provided,  however,  that  "material  adverse  change"  and
"material  adverse  effect"  shall be deemed to  exclude  the  impact of (i) any
changes  resulting from any restructuring or other similar charges or write-offs
taken by Coram with the written consent of IHS; provided,  however, that no such
charges  or   write-offs   will  be  taken  if  such  would   adversely   affect
pooling-of-interests  accounting  treatment for the Merger;  and (ii) other than
for the purposes of Section  8.1(g)  hereof,  (x) changes in generally  accepted
accounting principles and (y) changes in applicable law.

     10.9 Captions. The captions or headings in this Plan of Merger are made for
convenience  and general  reference only and shall not be construed to describe,
define or limit the scope or intent of the provisions of this Plan of Merger.



                                      -55-

<PAGE>

     10.10  Integration of Exhibits.  All Exhibits to the Schedules  attached to
this Plan of Merger  are  integral  parts of this Plan of Merger as if fully set
forth herein.

     10.11 Entire  Agreement.  This instrument,  including all Exhibits attached
hereto and the  Confidentiality  Agreements  contain the entire agreement of the
parties and supersede any and all prior or  contemporaneous  agreements  between
the  parties,  written or oral,  with respect to the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.  Such agreement may not be changed or terminated orally, but may only be
changed by an agreement in writing  signed by the party or parties  against whom
enforcement  of  any  waiver,  change,  modification,  extension,  discharge  or
termination is sought.

     10.12  Counterparts.  This  Plan  of  Merger  may be  executed  in  several
counterparts,  each of  which,  when  so  executed,  shall  be  deemed  to be an
original, and such counterparts shall,  together,  constitute and be one and the
same instrument.

     10.13  Binding  Effect.  This Plan of Merger shall be binding on, and shall
inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto, and their respective successors and
assigns,  and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue
of this Plan of Merger.  No party may assign any right or  obligation  hereunder
without the prior written consent of the other parties.

     10.14 No Rule of Construction.  The parties agree that, because all parties
participated  in  negotiating  and  drafting  this  Plan of  Merger,  no rule of
construction  shall  apply to this  Plan of  Merger  which  construes  ambiguous
language  in favor of or  against  any party by reason of that  party's  role in
drafting this Plan of Merger.


                                      -56-

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  IHS,  Merger Sub and Coram have caused this Agreement
and Plan of Merger to be executed by their respective duly authorized  officers,
all as of the day and year first above written.



                                  INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, INC.



                                  By: /s/ Brian Davidson
                                      ---------------------------
                                      Name:
                                      Title:




                                  IHS ACQUISITION XIX, INC


                                  By: /s/ Brian Davidson           
                                      --------------------------- 
                                      Name:
                                      Title:




                                  CORAM HEALTHCARE CORPORATION


                                  By: /s/ Donald J. Amaral
                                      -------------------------
                                      Donald J. Amaral,
                                      Chief Executive Officer




<PAGE>




                                 EXHIBIT 9.2(e)

     1. Coram is a corporation duly  incorporated and validly existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware.

     2. Coram has the  corporate  power and  authority  to execute,  deliver and
perform the Merger  Agreement.  The execution,  delivery and  performance of the
Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated thereby,
including  without  limitation  the  Merger,  have been duly  authorized  by all
requisite corporate and stockholders' action of Coram.

     3. Assuming due execution and delivery by Coram,  respectively,  the Merger
Agreement  constitutes  the valid and binding  agreement  of Coram,  enforceable
against  Coram in  accordance  with its  terms,  (a)  subject  to the  effect of
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium and other similar
laws and  court  decisions  of  general  application  or of  legal or  equitable
principles  relating to,  limiting or affecting  the  enforcement  of creditors'
rights generally; (b) except by general equitable principles,  including without
limitation the remedies of specific  performance,  injunction and other forms of
equitable  relief  that are  subject  to certain  tests of equity  jurisdiction,
equitable defenses and judicial  discretion  regarding the granting of equitable
remedies  generally;  (c)  subject to the fact that  certain  provisions  of the
Merger  Agreement  that  purport  to  provide  for  the  waiver,  limitation  or
modification  of  defenses  or  rights  which  cannot  as a  matter  of  law  be
effectively waived,  limited or modified,  as the case may be, such as rights to
receive  notice or rights of  redemption,  may be  unenforceable  in whole or in
part;  (d) the fact that rights to  indemnification  and  exculpation  under the
Merger  Agreement may be limited by  applicable  laws or  regulations  or public
policy  considerations;  and  (e)  except  we  express  no  opinion  as  to  the
enforceability or effect of Section 7.10 of the Merger Agreement.

     4. Other than as set forth in the Merger Agreement, the execution, delivery
and  performance  by Coram of the Merger  Agreement  will not  conflict  with or
result in a violation of Coram's certificate of incorporation or bylaws.

     5. To our actual knowledge,  without independent  investigation there is no
action of proceeding pending or threatened against or affecting Coram before any
court,   governmental   agency  or   arbitrator,   which  seeks  to  affect  the
enforceability  of the  Merger  Agreement.  To  our  actual  knowledge,  without
independent  investigation,  Coram is not bound by any  judgment,  injunction or
decree of any court or


<PAGE>



governmental  authority  which  would  prevent the  performance  by Coram of its
obligations under the Merger Agreement.



                                       -2-

<PAGE>



                                 EXHIBIT 9.3(e)

     1.  Each of IHS and  Merger  Sub is a  corporation  duly  incorporated  and
validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

     2. Each of IHS and  Merger Sub has the  corporate  power and  authority  to
execute, deliver and perform the Merger Agreement.  The execution,  delivery and
performance of the Merger  Agreement and the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  thereby,  including without limitation the Merger,  have been duly
authorized by all requisite corporate and stockholders' action of IHS and Merger
Sub.

     3. Assuming due execution and delivery by IHS and Merger Sub, respectively,
the Merger  Agreement  constitutes  the valid and binding  agreement  of IHS and
Merger Sub, enforceable against IHS and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms,
(a) subject to the effect of applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization,
moratorium and other similar laws and court decisions of general  application or
of  legal or  equitable  principles  relating  to,  limiting  or  affecting  the
enforcement  of creditors'  rights  generally;  (b) except by general  equitable
principles,  including without limitation the remedies of specific  performance,
injunction and other forms of equitable relief that are subject to certain tests
of equity jurisdiction, equitable defenses and judicial discretion regarding the
granting of equitable remedies  generally;  (c) subject to the fact that certain
provisions  of the Merger  Agreement  that  purport to provide  for the  waiver,
limitation or modification of defenses or rights which cannot as a matter of law
be effectively waived,  limited or modified,  as the case may be, such as rights
to receive notice or rights of redemption,  may be  unenforceable in whole or in
part; and (d) the fact that rights to indemnification  and exculpation under the
Merger  Agreement may be limited by  applicable  laws or  regulations  or public
policy considerations.

     4. Other than as set forth in the Merger Agreement, the execution, delivery
and performance by IHS and Merger Sub of the Merger  Agreement will not conflict
with or result in a violation of their respective  certificates of incorporation
or bylaws.

     5. To our actual knowledge,  without independent  investigation there is no
action of proceeding  pending or  threatened  against or affecting IHS or Merger
Sub before any court,  governmental agency or arbitrator,  which seeks to affect
the  enforceability  of the Merger Agreement.  To our actual knowledge,  without
independent investigation, neither


<PAGE>



IHS nor Merger Sub is bound by any  judgment,  injunction or decree of any court
or governmental  authority which would prevent the performance by IHS and Merger
Sub of their respective obligations under the Merger Agreement.

     6. The shares of Common  Stock,  par value  $0.001 per share,  of IHS to be
issued  pursuant to the Merger  Agreement have been duly  authorized by IHS and,
when  issued in  accordance  with the  terms of the  Merger  Agreement,  will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     7. We have been  advised  by the SEC that the  Registration  Statement  was
declared  effective under the Securities Act on _____,  1997 and, to the best of
our knowledge,  no stop order  suspending the  effectiveness of the Registration
Statement  has been  issued  and no  proceedings  for  that  purpose  have  been
instituted or are pending or threatened by the SEC.




                                       -2-




         AGREEMENT,  dated as of October 19th,  1996,  among  Integrated  Health
Services,  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  with an  address  at  10065  Red Run
Boulevard , Owings Mills, MD 21117 ("IHS"), and Coram Funding,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation,  having an address at 277 Park  Avenue,  New York,  NY 10172  ("DLJ
Bridge").

                          W I T N E S S E T H  T H A T :
                          - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - -

         WHEREAS,  concurrently  herewith,  IHS, IHS  Acquisition  XIX,  Inc., a
wholly-owned  subsidiary  of IHS  ("Newco"),  and Coram  Healthcare  Corporation
("Coram")  are  entering  into an  Agreement  and Plan of  Merger  (the  "Merger
Agreement")  pursuant to which  Newco  shall be merged with and into Coram,  and
Coram will become a wholly owned subsidiary of IHS (the "Merger"); and

         WHEREAS,  DLJ Bridge  currently  holds debt of Coram issued pursuant to
the  Securities  Purchase  Agreeemnt  dated as of April 6,  1995  (the  "Current
Debt"),  and DLJ Bridge also holds warrants (the  "Warrants") to purchase shares
of Common Stock, par value $.001 of Coram ("Coram Common Stock"); and

         WHEREAS, the  parties  have  agreed  that,  subject  to the  terms and
conditions set forth herein, the Current Debt and all interest and other amounts
which now or  hereafter  may become due with respect to the Current Debt (all of
such amounts being referred to  collectively as the "DLJ Debt") and the Warrants
shall be  purchased  by IHS if and at such time as a closing  shall occur  under
the Merger Agreement (a "Closing"); and

         WHEREAS,  the  parties  hereto  desire to set forth said  agreement  in
writing; and

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises,  and for other good
and  valuable  consideration,  the receipt and  sufficiency  of  which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. During the term of this Agreement:

         (a) DLJ shall not sell,  transfer,  or encumber  any of the DLJ Debt or
any of the Warrants;  

         (b) Any  prepayments  of the DLJ Debt prior to the Closing shall reduce
the Purchase Price (as defined below) by an equal amount;

         (c) DLJ Bridge shall not exercise any of the Warrants; and




<PAGE>



         (d) DLJ Bridge shall not  accelerate the payment of any of the DLJ Debt
unless it shall  have given IHS at least five (5)  business  days prior  written
notice, during which period IHS shall have the right (but not the obligation) to
cure any defaults under the DLJ Debt.

         2. Concurrently  with the Closing,  if any, IHS shall purchase all, but
not part, of the DLJ Debt and the Warrants for an aggregate purchase price equal
to  $172,300,000,  plus  interest at the rate of eleven (11%)  percent per annum
from January 1, 1997, to the Closing (the "Purchase Price").  The Purchase Price
shall be paid at Closing in cash or,  subject to the conditions set forth below,
IHS Note(s) (as described below) or in such  combination  thereof as IHS, in its
sole  discretion,  shall  designate no less than five (5) business days prior to
Closing;  provided  that if IHS Note(s) are issued to DLJ Bridge as part of such
consideration  the  aggregate  principal  amount  thereof shall not be less than
$50,000,000.  The initial principal amount of the IHS Note(s), if any, issued to
DLJ Bridge  pursuant  to the  foregoing  shall be equal to (x) the total of: the
Purchase  Price minus the cash  portion of the  Purchase  Price paid by IHS, (y)
divided by 0.98625.  The provisions of the IHS Note(s) shall be identical to the
provisions of the 10 1/4 % Senior  Subordinated Notes, due 2006, of IHS (the "10
1/4 % Notes") that are currently  outstanding,  as in effect on the date hereof,
with the following exceptions:

         (a) the term shall be ten (10) years from the date of issuance;

         (b) the interest rate per annum shall be 11%;

         (c) there shall be no call protection;

         (d) there  shall be such other  modifications  as shall be  required in
order to  conform  the  terms of the IHS  Note(s)  to any  modifications  to the
provisions  obtained from the holders of the 10 1/4 % Notes prior to the Closing
(it being  agreed that (i) DLJ Bridge  shall not be entitled to any fees paid in
connection with such consents,  and (ii) DLJ Bridge shall have consented  (which
consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed) to such  modifications of
the provisions, unless the modification is to permit the Merger or the resultant
combination of the companies  following the Closing or the incurrence of the IHS
Note(s)); and

     (e) at any time, and from time to time,  commencing  thirty (30) days after
the Note  Registration  Statement  (as defined  below) shall have been  declared
effective,  IHS may,  upon  providing DLJ Bridge with at least fifteen (15) days
prior notice,  restrict DLJ Bridge (but not  subsequent  purchasers  pursuant to
bona fide third party  transactions) from selling or otherwise  transferring any
IHS Note(s) for sixty (60)  consecutive  days (a  "No-Sale  Period");  provided,
however,  that (i) if IHS shall  have  imposed  restrictions  on the sale of IHS
Note(s) at any time during the first  forty-five (45) consecutive days following
the Closing  pursuant to the last sentence of this  Paragraph  2(d),  the thirty
(30) day or fifteen  (15) day  period,  as the case may be,  referred to in this
sentence shall be extended by the number of days during which such  restrictions
shall have applied,  and (ii) IHS may not impose a new No-Sale,  Period until at
least sixty (60) days shall have  elapsed  since the last day of the most recent
No-Sale Period.  The restrictions  contained in this  subparagraph (e) shall not
apply to IHS Notes repurchased by DLJ Bridge.

                                      -2-


<PAGE>



     Nothing  herein shall  restrict  IHS from  imposing  restrictions,  on sale
     pursuant to the Note Registration  Statement at any time when it determines
     in good faith that there has  occurred an event that  requires  IHS to make
     changes in the Note  Registration  Statement or the  prospectus in order to
     make the statements  therein not misleading;  provided,  however,  that (i)
     during the first  forty-five (45) days following the date on which the Note
     Registration  Statement  has been  declared  effective  (the  "Initial Sale
     Period"), IHS may not impose any such restrictions on sale by reason of any
     acquisition,  divestiture, or other transaction voluntarily entered into or
     proposed by IHS,  and (ii) IHS shall as promptly as  practicable  amend the
     Note Registration Statement so that it is again usable (it being understood
     that if such event is an acquisition,  divestiture, or similar transaction,
     such  amendment  shall not be required at any time when IHS  determines  in
     good faith that disclosure at such time would adversely  affect its ability
     to consummate such transaction).

         3. The right of IHS to provide  all or a portion  of the  consideration
for its  purchase  of Current  Debt and  Warrants  in the form of an IHS Note or
Notes  is  subject  to the  satisfaction,  at or prior  to the  Closing,  of the
following conditions.

         (a) the execution of an indenture (the "Indenture") with respect to the
IHS Notes,  qualifying  under the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939, as amended (the
"TIA"),  identical  to the  indenture  relating to the 10 1/4% Notes,  except as
provided in Section 2, above;

         (b) the  issuance  by IHS to DLJ  Bridge  of the IHS  Note(s),  and any
resales thereof by DLJ Bridge having been registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  and any applicable  state securities
laws  pursuant to an  effective  registration  statement  (a "Note  Registration
Statement") and the Indenture having been qualified under the TIA;

         (c)  the  absence  of any  default  under  the  IHS  Note(s),  and  the
compliance by IHS with the cross-default provisions contained in Section 6.01(g)
of the $700,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement,  dated as of May 15, 1996, among
IHS, the Lenders (as defined  therein),  and Citibank,  N.A., as  administrative
agent (with  indebtedness under such Revolving Credit Agreement being deemed for
purposes of this subsection (c) to be subject to such Section 6.01(g));

         (d) the  entry by IHS  into  customary  agreements  in  respect  of any
proposed resale by DLJ Bridge of IHS Note(s),  including  blackout periods as to
sales  by IHS  during  the  Initial  Sale  Period,  cooperation  and  management
participation  in one road show and related  investor  meetings  with respect to
such resale,  customary mutual  indemnification  provisions,  and, to the extent
required under applicable  securities laws,  providing current  prospectuses and
amending  and  updating  the  registration  statement  with  respect  to the IHS
Note(s);

         (e) DLJ Bridge's receipt of customary closing certificates instruments,
and legal opinions; and


                                      -3-

<PAGE>

         (f) the  completion  by DLJ Bridge of, and  satisfaction  by DLJ Bridge
with the results of, a reasonable  due  diligence  review of IHS,  provided that
this condition shall be deemed satisfied unless DLJ shall have given IHS written
notice not later than November 15, 1996, of the failure of this condition.

         4. The Note  Registration  Statement shall be amended as appropriate so
as to  be  available  for  resales  to  the  extent  required  under  applicable
securities laws.

         5. DLJ Bridge  represents  and  warrants to IHS that neither DLJ Bridge
nor Donaldson,  Lufkin & Jenrette Securities  Corporation owns any securities of
Coram, other than the Current Debt and Warrants.

         6. This Agreement shall automatically  terminate and cease to be of any
further  force and effect on the  earlier  of (i) March 31,  1997 (or such later
date on or before May 31, 1997,  to which Coram's  principal  bank lenders shall
have agreed to extend the  maturity of their loans to Coram),  and (ii) the date
upon which the Merger Agreement is terminated.

         7. This Agreement  shall be governed by and interpreted and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

         8. Any notice,  designation,  request or the like hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be given to any party at its  respective  address set forth in
the  opening  paragraph  to this  Agreement  or at  such  other  address  as may
hereafter be specified in a notice  designated  as a notice of change of address
under this Section.  Any notice or request hereunder shall be given in person by
nationally  recognized  overnight  courier  or  by  telefacsimile   transmission
subsequently confirmed by such overnight courier. Notices and requests shall, in
the case of those by such overnight courier, be deemed to have been given on the
next business day following delivery to such courier and properly addressed,  or
in the case of those  given by  telefacsimile  transmission,  shall be deemed to
have been given upon confirmation of receipt.

         9. This Agreement  constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with
respect to the  subject  matter  hereof,  and may not be  amended,  modified  or
supplement  except pursuant to a writing signed by both parties.  This Agreement
shall be binding  upon and inure to the benefit of the parties  hereto and their
respective successors and assigns.

         10. Nothing  herein shall be construed as a  modification  or waiver of
the Current Debt, the Warrants, or the Securities Purchase Agreement,


                       [SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]


                                      -4-

<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first written above.




                                    INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, INC.


                                    BY:  /s/ Eleanor Harding 
                                         -----------------------------
                                    Name:     Eleanor Harding     
                                    Title:    Executive Vice President- Finance



                                   CORAM FUNDING, INC.


                                    BY:  /s/ Paul Thompson III
                                         -----------------------------
                                    Name: Paul Thompson        
                                    Title: President


                                      -5-

                                    AGREEMENT


     AGREEMENT, dated as of October 20, 1996, by and between MEDPARTNERS,  INC.,
a Delaware corporation ("MedPartners"),  and INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, INC., a
Delaware corporation ("IHS").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS,  MedPartners  recently  acquired Caremark  International,  Inc., a
Delaware  corporation ("CII"), in a manner pursuant to which CII became a wholly
owned subsidiary of MedPartners and CII and all of its subsidiaries  continue as
a separate business organization, with MedPartners as the parent corporation;

     WHEREAS,  CII and  Caremark,  Inc., a California  corporation  and a wholly
owned subsidiary of CII ("Caremark"), are Defendants in the lawsuit styled Coram
Healthcare  Corporation,  et al. v.  Caremark,  Inc. and Caremark  International
Inc., et al.,  filed in the Superior Court of California for the City and County
of San Francisco (Case No. 972431) and Plaintiffs in the lawsuit styled Caremark
Inc. and Caremark International Inc. v. Coram Healthcare  Corporation,  filed in
the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Case No.
95C5878) (hereinafter referred to as the "Coram Litigation");

     WHEREAS,  IHS has entered  into an agreement  to acquire  Coram  Healthcare
Corporation,  a  Delaware  corporation  ("Coram"),  the  Defendant  in the above
mentioned  litigation filed in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Illinois and both the  Plaintiff and the parent  corporation  of the
other  Plaintiffs in the above mentioned  litigation filed in the Superior Court
of California; and

     WHEREAS,  MedPartners and IHS have agreed to settle the Coram Litigation on
the terms set forth herein.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  for and in  consideration  of the premises and the mutual
covenants and promises  hereinafter set forth,  MedPartners and IHS hereby agree
as follows:

     1. Coram Litigation.

     (a)  IHS  hereby  agrees  that  it  will  cause  Coram,  as a  part  of its
acquisition  agreement  with Coram,  to join with CII and Caremark in motions to
stay  all  proceedings  in  the  Coram   Litigation  until  December  30,  1996.
Medpartners  agrees  that it will not move to change  the  scheduled  trial date
until December 31, 1996.  Medpartners shall cause CII and Caremark to join Coram
in the above  motions.  It is agreed by the parties that such  motions  shall be
made as soon as practicable  after the announcement of IHS' agreement to acquire
coram.

     (b) If IHS closes and consummates its acquisition of Coram, IHS, Coram, CII
and Caremark shall settle and terminate the Coram Litigation.  The settlement of
the Coram  Litigation  shall  include a  complete  release  of all claims of the
parties against each other (including, without limitation, those claims

                                       1
<PAGE>



arising under the Coram notes defined  below) and any and all  liabilities  that
any of the parties in the Coram  Litigation  have with respect to each other and
shall  provide for the issuance of the New Coram Note, as set forth in Section 2
of this  Agreement  and such other  terms as IHS may  determine  necessary  as a
result of its continuing due diligence investigation of Coram.

     2. Coram  Notes.  As of  September  30, 1996,  there were  outstanding  the
following obligations of Coram payable to Caremark, both dated April 1, 1995:


         7% Convertible Subordinated Notes due October 1, 2005

         12% Non-Convertible Subordinated Notes due October 1, 2005


The above  obligations,  including  all notes  delivered  in payment of interest
accrued on the above notes, are hereinafter called the "Coram Notes".

     As part of the settlement of the Coram Litigation, the Coram Notes shall be
canceled as of consummation of the acquisition of Coram by IHS and in connection
therewith,  Coram shall issue, in partial substitution  therefor, its Promissory
Note in the principal amount of $52,687,000 plus an amount equal to the interest
accrued on all the Coram Notes from  September  30, 1996  through the closing of
the acquisition of Coram by IHS (the "New Coram Note"). The New Coram Note shall
have a term of two years,  payable  interest  only and shall bear interest at an
annual  rate  equal to the  lesser  of (a)  one-half  (1/2%)  percent  below the
long-term  borrowing  rate as in effect  from  time to time  under  IHS'  senior
secured bank line of credit or (b) 8% per annum.  Interest shall be payable on a
quarterly basis until  maturity,  at which time the entire amount of outstanding
and unpaid  principal and interest due under the New Coram Note shall be due and
payable.

     3. Services  Agreement.  MedPartners and IHS acknowledge that IHS/Coram has
the  ability to provide  services  related to  quality  control,  including  the
gathering and synthesis of outcome data,  satisfaction data,  analysis by acuity
of post-acute  patient costs and such other  information  pertaining to the home
care and  sub-acute  care  business  carried  out by Coram and IHS.  The parties
further  acknowledge  that the acrimony  resulting from the Coram Litigation has
prevented the parties from  previously  entering  into a Services  Agreement for
such services and recognizing IHS' expertise in providing home care and subacute
care the parties  desire,  following  IHS'  acquisition of Coram to enter into a
Services  Agreement  pursuant to which IHS and/or  Coram will  provide the above
described  services.  The service fee to be paid in connection with the Services
Agreement  shall be negotiated by the parties and shall be based upon the market
value of the  actual  services  to be  rendered  by IHS and  shall be as  agreed
between the parties at the time of the  execution  and  delivery of the Services
Agreement.

     4. Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate upon the termination of the
Acquisition   Agreement  between  IHS  and  Coram  or,  if  the  acquisition  is
consummated, upon execution of a formal Settlement Agreement.

     5. Miscellaneous.

                                        2

<PAGE>



     (a)  Confidentiality.  It is agreed  between the parties that the existence
and terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain confidential,  except to
the extent that such matters are required to be disclosed in connection with the
motion to stay the Coram Litigation and the acquisition of Coram by IHS. In such
latter  event,  IHS and  MedPartners  shall  make such  disclosures  as shall be
required by law, upon advice of counsel, but only with the approval of the other
party.

     (b)  Notices.  All  notices,  requests,  demands  and other  communications
provided  for by this  Agreement or required to be given  hereunder  shall be in
writing  and  shall be  deemed to have been  given  when  hand  delivered,  when
received  if sent  by fax or by  same  day or  overnight  recognized  commercial
courier  service or three  business  days after  being  mailed in any general or
branch office of the United States Postal  Service,  enclosed in a registered or
certified  postpaid  envelope,  addressed  to the address of the parties  stated
below or to such changed address as such party may have fixed by notice:

                  IHS:    Integrated Health Services, Inc.
                          10065 Red Run Boulevard
                          Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
                          Attn: Chief Executive Officer

          MEDPARTNERS:    MedPartners, Inc.
                          3000 Galleria Tower, Suite 1000
                          Birmingham, Alabama 35244
                          Attn:  Chief Executive Officer

provided  that any  notice of change of  address  shall be  effective  only upon
receipt of such change.

     (c) Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which shall prove
to be invalid,  void or illegal shall in no way affect, impair or invalidate any
other term or provisions  herein and such remaining  terms and provisions  shall
remain in full force and effect.

     (d) Assignment. Neither party shall have the right to assign this Agreement
without the prior written consent of the other party.  Any attempted  assignment
of this Agreement in contravention of this Paragraph 5(d) shall be null and void
and without any effect whatsoever.

     (e)  Successors  and Assigns.  Subject to the  provisions of this Agreement
regarding assignment, the terms, covenants and conditions contained herein shall
be binding  upon and inure to the benefit of the  successors  and assigns of the
parties hereto.

     (f) Captions and  Headings.  The  captions  and  headings  throughout  this
Agreement are for  convenience  of reference only and shall in no way be held or
deemed to be a part of or affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

     (g) Entire Agreement;  Amendment. This Agreement states the entire contract
between  the  parties in respect to the  subject  matter of this  Agreement  and
supersedes any oral or written proposals, statements, discussions,  negotiations
or other agreements before or contemporaneous to this Agreement.

                                        3

<PAGE>


The  parties  acknowledge  that they have not been  induced  to enter  into this
Agreement by any oral or written  representations  or  statements  not expressly
contained  in this  Agreement.  This  Agreement  may be modified  only by mutual
agreement  of the  parties,  provided  that,  before any  modification  shall be
operative or valid, it be reduced to writing and signed by both parties.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and
year first above written.


                                      MEDPARTNERS, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Larry House
                                      Its:

                                      INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ Brian Davidson
                                      Its:





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