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

Arlington, VA (May 12, 2005) – Today the Health Industry Group Purchasing Association (HIGPA) announces that all of its 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, 26 GPOs have self-certified their compliance with the HIGPA Code demonstrating their commitment to provide 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 Associa tion’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, Inc - St. Louis
3. Amerinet - Intermountain Health Care
4. CHAMPS Management Services
5. Child Health Corporation of America
6. Consorta, Inc.
7. Cooperative Services of Florida
8. Council Connections
9. GNYHA Services, Inc.
10. Health Resource Services
11. Healthcare Purchasing Partners International, LLC
12. Hospital Purchasing Services
13. Innovatix
14. International Physician Network
15. Joint Purchasing Corporation
16. MAGNET
17. The MED Group
18. MHA-MedEcon
19. MedAssets Supply Chain Systems
20. National Oncology Alliance, Inc.
21. Novation, LLC
22. Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P.
23. PRIME, Inc.
24. Resource Optimization & Innovation
25. Shared Services Healthcare
26. SYNERNET

HIGPA is a chartered trade association of over 140 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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