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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Hickey
Phone: 703-243-9262

Arlington, VA (May 24, 2004) – Today the Health Industry Group Purchasing Association (HIGPA) announces that all of its 28 American-based group purchasing organization (GPO) members have self-certified compliance with the Association’s GPO Code of Conduct Principles. The purpose of HIGPA’s Code of Conduct is to strengthen and improve the delivery of products and services to health care providers.

“Adopted in July 2002, the HIGPA Code provides an assurance to health care providers that the Association’s GPO members are practicing the highest ethical business standards and at the same time ensuring patients have access to the best products at the best price,” stated HIGPA President and CEO Robert Betz, Ph.D. “Today, 28 GPOs have self-certified their compliance with the HIGPA Code. I encourage all health care purchasing entities to adopt our Code of Conduct and join our Association in providing the best delivery of health care products and services.”

HIGPA’s Code of Conduct is the only enforceable business ethic requirement for the health care industry; all other codes of conduct are on a volunteer basis. The Association’s Board of Directors and HIGPA’s membership made the Code of Conduct self-certification process a requirement for membership. In Section E.2 of HIGPA’s Code of Conduct Principles it states, “The management of each GPO member of HIGPA shall certify annually to HIGPA that they are in compliance with the principles…This certification shall constitute a requirement for membership in HIGPA.”

Member GPOs in compliance with the HIGPA Code of Conduct include:

1. AllHealth
2. Amerinet Central
3. Amerinet, Inc
4. CHAMPS Management Services
5. Child Health Corporation of America
6. Consorta, Inc.
7. Council Connections
8. GNYHA Services, Inc.
9. Health Resource Services
10. Healthcare Purchasing Partners International, LLC
11. HSNE, Inc.
12. Hospital Purchasing Services
13. IHC/Amerinet
14. Innovatix
15. International Oncology Network
16. Joint Purchasing Corporation
17. MAGNET
18. MHA-MedEcon
19. MedAssets HSCA Inc.
20. Metro Chicago Healthcare Council
21. National Oncology Alliance, Inc.
22. Novation, LLC
23. Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P.
24. PRIME, Inc.
25. Resource Optimization & Innovation
26. Shared Services Healthcare
27. SYNERNET
28. Vector/Amerinet

HIGPA is a chartered trade association of over 150 health care purchasing and supply chain organizations. HIGPA's Industry Members include purchasing groups, associations, and health care provider alliances. HIGPA's Trading Partner members include many of the world's leading health care product manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and related suppliers. According to a recent study conducted by a former principal analyst at the Congressional Budget Office, hospitals save patients over $30 billion each year by purchasing products through group contracts.

To learn more about HIGPA or the group purchasing industry, visit www.higpa.org or call 703-243-9262.

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