Two new partnerships aim to offer skilled nursing and other post-acute care providers educational and pricing advantages.
Last month, Medline announced its new group-purchasing partnership with Link-age Solutions, an organization whose members serve all sectors of post-acute care. Through the partnership, members will receive negotiated pricing on more than 550,000 medical supplies.
“We have a unique group of members who are all navigating different regulations and reimbursement methodologies, as well as growing operational and clinical demands,” said Steve Wittman, executive vice president of Link-age. “With knowledgeable sales reps and clinical experts spread out across the country, we are confident that Medline’s forward-thinking initiatives and one-on-one approach to customer service will help Link-age members address their evolving challenges.”
Within days of the Medline news, leaders of the new Society for Healthcare Organization Procurement Professionals (SHOPP) announced they had joined forces to improve collaboration between clinical and financial leaders in the post-acute segment.
SHOPP members will institute value-based principles that improve patient care, while maintaining the integrity of the healthcare continuum and achieving cost goals. Education will be offered online, through webinars and during in-person symposiums.
“Purchasing decisions must be made with an eye not only towards cost of the product, but total cost/benefit on achieving a superior outcome,” Michael Torgan, a prior chief strategy officer for First Quality Products, said in a release announcing the new organization.
The group says it promoted “unbiased, not-for-profit, agenda-free education” and welcomes “all operators in the procurement process.”
From the February 2020 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
