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

Arlington, VA (October 20, 2004) – This week at the health care contracting event of the year – the Health Industry Group Purchasing Association’s 2004 International EXPO—leading procurement and supply chain executives announced a joint exploratory effort of enhancing purchasing organizations and integrated delivery networks’ public policy voice by working together under the leadership of the Association. Concurrent with HIGPA’s five principle components of its mission statement—advocacy, education, ethics, information and liaison—the Association provides the most appropriate vehicle for all health care purchasing entities to ensure its shared goals of providing the best products at the best price to the patients these entities serve, are not compromised by additional legislative and regulatory measures.

"This development holds enormous potential for the health care procurement and supply chain. We are asking this exploratory group of GPOs and IDN leaders to conduct a top-down examination, including name, mission and organizational structure," said HIGPA President and CEO Robert Betz, Ph.D. "The bringing together of GPOs, IDNs, and other procurement organizations will create a unified public policy voice. Additionally, this forum provides an excellent platform to explore industry best practices."

This announcement compliments HIGPA’s recent decision to add IDNs to the Association’s Board of Directors. At HIGPA’s Annual Meeting this week, the membership voted two representatives from IDNs to join the Board.

HIGPA is a chartered trade association of over 160 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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