Group purchasing organizations (GPOs) are able to combine orders from practices, hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities in order to receive volume discounts from specific vendors. AAP members report significant savings on vaccines when purchased through GPOs.
GPOs tend to be operated by hospital-affiliated purchasing programs, and often include supplies in addition to vaccines. GPO pricing is typically not as favorable as with Physician Buying Groups (PBGs), but there is usually no requirement to use products of a specific manufacturer; in fact, GPOs often offer vaccines from all three manufacturers. The GPO option may not be available to all practices in all markets.
.
PBGs offer physicians the option of obtaining the most favorable pricing in return for only using the vaccines produced by contracted manufacturers. Since GSK is competitive with both Sanofi and Merck, you will not typically find a PBG that offers preferred terms with all three manufacturers. In most cases PBGs offer “up-front” discounts based on their respective contract terms with the manufacturers. GSK will also provide quarterly rebates to practices based on mix and volume, in addition to their discount. The PBG typically requires the practice to first use the contracted vaccines, and most programs will remove a practice from the program if it does not comply with these terms, due to the potential for decreasing the discount to other members.
The practice is able to benefit from other manufacturer-based features, such as prompt pay discounts, on-line order discounts, and periodic manufacturer promotions.
When considering joining a GPO or PBG, use the questions below to assess which program is right for you.
- Which manufacturer(s) are included in the program? Under what circumstances can I purchase outside the plan? What are the purchasing compliance requirements?
- Based on this contract, how will my usual vaccine regimen be affected? Would I need to start administering different vaccines? How will this affect office education or nurses' time?
- If I have to change the type of vaccine I order, is the change worth it? Is there another option with similar pricing that would allow me to order what I currently use?
|
- Is there a cost to participate? What is the length of my
contract commitment? Does this plan provide rebates
to its participants?
|
-
Is pricing tied to volume? Do all participants have the
same terms?
- Does placing large- or small-volume orders allow me to receive the optimal discount?
|
- How do your discounts compare with my current pricing?
- Can I take advantage of additional manufacturer discounts
through this program?
|
- How frequently am I allowed to order? What is the process to
order vaccines? Is a code needed to order online? Is there an
administrator to call?
- Can the practice order whenever it wants? Is there a limit to
how many orders can be placed in a given time? What is the
process for ordering (eg, phone, online)?
|
- Can I reduce my practice’s time and resources spent on
ordering vaccines so that maximum discounts are still
achieved? Does the program eliminate the need to order
strategically to achieve best pricing?
|
- What customer-service resources are in place to answer our
questions and provide supply assistance? How long has the plan
been in business and how many doctors does it work with?
(You can also ask your manufacturer representatives for their
views of the program.)
|
- Are there geographic limitations to participation?
|
- What value-added services (eg, payment support, office supplies) does the
plan provide?
|
The AAP has collected a list of GPOs and PBGs with whom member pediatricians report working. The inclusion of any groups on this list does not constitute Academy endorsement of the purchasing group, nor does it imply Academy involvement with the purchasing group.
| GPO Name |
Items included in GPO |
Membership/Fee Requirements |
Contact Information |
| Atlantic Health Partners |
Vaccines
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies
Patient Recall Program
Discounts for Vaccine Refrigerator/ Freezers |
None |
Jeff Winokur
jwinokur@atlantichealthpartners.com
800-741-2044
www.atlanichealthpartners.com |
| CCPA Purchasing Partners, L.P. |
Vaccines
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies |
Physician licensed in Illinois, Indiana, or Wisconsin |
Nancy Mosko
nmosko@childrensmemorial.org
773-880-6635
http://www.childrensmemorial.org |
Child Health Advantage |
Vaccines |
None |
Membership Coordinator
advantage@childrenshospital.org
913-262-1436
www.childhealthadvantage.com |
Children's National Health Network (CNHN) |
Vaccines
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies |
No fees. Must be a member of CNHN to access contracts, programs, & services. |
Donnita Pickett
dpickett@childrensnational.org
202-476-2727
http://www.childrensnational.org |
| Children's Practicing Pediatricians, Inc |
Vaccines. Office Supplies, Medical/Surgical Supplies |
No fees
Must be a member of the Section of General Pediatrics of Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
|
Children's Practicing Pediatricians, Inc.
cpp-docs@nationwidechildrens.org
614-722-2145
http://www.cpp-docs.org/index.php |
Cumberland Pediatric Foundation |
Vaccines
Medical Supplies |
No fees
May be required to maintain certain benchmarks
Practices must give 30 day notice to opt out of agreement |
Ann Manning
ann.manning@vanderbilt.edu
615-936-6053
www.cumberlandpediatric.org |
Fair Advantage Consortium |
Vaccines
Medical Supplies |
|
Robin Riggs
rriggs@fairadvantage.com
256-265-2464
www.fairadvantageconsortium.com |
Integrated Physician Solutions (IPS) |
Vaccines
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies
Malpractice Insurance |
No fees |
Lynne Sherman
lsherman@ips-usa.com
678-832-1824
http://vaccines.ips-usa.com |
Kelson |
Vaccines |
Unknown |
866-820-4898
http://www.kelsoncorp.com/vaccine.php |
Medical Practice Purchasing Group (MPPG) |
Vaccines
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies
20
more Contracts |
No fees
Loyalty payments for members in good standing |
Brian K. Greenberg, MD, FAAP
818-332-7057
Leslie Fuchs
leslief@mppg.net
714-469-5296
www.mppg.net |
National Physician Care |
Vaccines
Medical Supplies
Office Administrative Services
CHADIS
Internet and Phone Service |
Private practice physicians and clinics. No fees for private practice physicians. |
Richard Miles
RLMiles@nationalphysiciancare.com
877-598-3286
www.nationalphysiciancare.com |
National Discount Vaccine Alliance |
Vaccines
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies |
No fees |
Dr. Kathleen Cain
kcain@nationaldiscountvacinealliance.com
Dr. Richard Lander
rlander@nationaldiscountvaccinealliance.com
785-273-4165
www.nationaldiscountvaccinealliance.com |
Northampton Area Pediatrics |
Vaccines
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies |
AAP membership |
Cindy Mayo
cmayo@napeds.com
413-584-8700
www.napeds.com |
Pediatric Federation LLC |
Vaccines
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies |
No fees
Nationwide |
Kathy Chebib
Kathy@pediafed.com
855-733-4233 x81
www.pediafed.com
https://pediafeed.com/vaccine-group-purchasing-organization |
Peds Pal |
Vaccines
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies |
None |
pedspal@cookchildrens.org
877-923-2233
http://www.pedspal.org/contact.html |
Physicians' Alliance of America, Inc. |
Vaccines
Vaccines Rebate Program
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies |
Practices in the United States are eligible
No fees
Members may choose which of 80+ agreements they want to access |
Bob Chalmers
info@physall.com
1-866-348-9780
www.physiciansalliance.com |
Primary Care Alliance |
Vaccines
Medical Supplies |
Any physician or physician group in the United States may participate. No fee |
Amy Dahl
adahl@primarycarealliance.com
866-470-0090
www.primarycarealliance.com |
River Valley Pediatricians, Inc. (RVPI)
|
Vaccines
Office Supplies
Medical Supplies |
Annual fee
Must be community-based physician in the metropolitan area of Cincinnati, OH |
Ed Freeman
edward@rvpi.com
513-475-6084
www.rvpi.com |
Southern California Children's Health Network |
Vaccines |
|
Irma Estrada
iestrada@isynermed.com
213-406-2711
www.isynermed.com |
