Premier’s Continuum of Care team is pleased to provide the fourth edition of our quarterly newsletter for our affiliates. This newsletter highlights relevant contracts, summarizes industry trends and provides updates on recent Premier events.
Newsletter content:
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Facilities
Can Liners: New agreements for can liners have been awarded to incumbents Novolex Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries (Heritage) and I.B.S. Solutions Corp., and to new supplier Plastic Solutions Inc. dba EcoSafe. These agreements are effective from Aug. 1, 2017, through July 31, 2020. This category includes can liners used throughout healthcare and non-healthcare facilities. Can liners are used to store and transport various types of waste, including standard waste, infectious waste, biohazardous waste, chemotherapy waste, soiled linen, infectious linen and food service waste.
Materials Management
Office Supplies and Business Services: New agreements for office supplies and business services have been awarded to incumbents American Office Product Distributors Inc. (APOD), Friends Service Company, Inc. dba FriendsOffice, Materials Management Services Inc. (MMS), Office Depot Inc. and Staples Contract & Commercial Inc., operating as Staples Business Advantage; and to new supplier Guy Brown Management LLC. These agreements are effective Aug. 1, 2018, through July 31, 2020. This category includes routine office supplies plus products and services that help run your business. This could include paper, toner, break room and janitorial supplies, technology, furniture, print service and promotional products.
Nursing
Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Skin Prep Products: New agreements for chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) skin prep products have been awarded to incumbents Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD/CareFusion) and Professional Disposables International (PDI) Inc. These agreements are effective Aug. 1, 2017, through July 31, 2020. This category includes at minimum 2 percent chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and 70 percent isopropyl alcohol (ISA) chemical antiseptic products and solutions which are used as pre-surgical or interventional procedural scrubs and/or as a general wound cleanser designed to reduce blood stream infections.
Fall Management Footwear: New agreements for fall management footwear have been awarded to incumbents Cardinal Health and Encompass Group LLC. S2S Global also has an agreement in this category. These agreements are effective Aug. 1, 2017, through July 31, 2020. This category includes slippers used on patients in acute and non-acute facilities to prevent falls. These include skids and treads that are single-sided or dual-sided, as well as color-coded, that are used for patients while in the hospital setting.
Restraints and Fall Prevention Products: New agreements for restraints and fall prevention products have been awarded to incumbents DeRoyal Industries Inc., E.M. Adams Company, Horizon Healthcare Supply Inc. and Posey Products LLC; and to new supplier Stanley Security Solutions Inc. These agreements are effective Aug. 1, 2017, through July 31, 2020. This category includes fall prevention programs, visual cues, warning systems/monitors/alarms, patient restraints or restraining garments and devices that limit the physical movement of the patient.
Surgical Services
Disposable Anesthesia Products: New agreements for disposable anesthesia products have been awarded to incumbents Medline Industries Inc., Pall Corporation, Smiths Medical ASD Inc., Vital Signs Inc. (BD/CareFusion) and to new supplier, Ambu Inc. These agreements are effective Aug. 1, 2017, through July 31, 2020. This category includes disposable anesthesia products, such as anesthesia face masks, filters, breathing circuits/bags, gas sampling lines and oral airways to administer anesthesia to surgical patients.
For additional contract information, contact your Premier Sponsor or Premier’s Solution Center at 877.777.1552 or solutioncenter@premiernc.com.
INDUSTRY TRENDS
Balancing Pain Management with Technology, Safely and Effectively
Research conducted by Premier Inc. found that at nearly 300 U.S. hospitals, opioids were being used in more than half of hospital admissions of non-surgical patients. Among pediatric inpatients, two specific opioids (fentanyl and morphine) were found to be among the top 10 most administered medications.
The article highlights the needs assessment for technology, the related costs and the impact to reduce risk of serious outcomes. It also notes that hospitals with continuous monitoring report a reduction in adverse events, costs and expenses.
Click here to read the full article.
Keys to an Effective Physician Practice Acquisition
Premier physician practice data shows that internal medicine providers alone can lose more than $260,000 per physician per year if they aren’t managed effectively. Major factors contributing to these losses include provider productivity and compensation alignment, payer contract rates, revenue cycle management and support staff ratios.
Click here to read the full article.
Medicare ACOs Qualify for Third MACRA Option
The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and advanced alternative payment models penalize physicians for poor performance scores. But a third, lesser-known option is available for physicians participating in Track 1 of the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Dubbed the MIPS-APM track, it doesn’t punish physicians for low scores in MACRA performance categories. Experts say the track, which is technically part of MIPS, prepares physicians for the shift to value-based care without the potential for any financial losses.
Click here to read the full article. (Modern Healthcare subscription required)
PREMIER NEWS AND EVENTS
Premier Releases Policy Roadmap to Address Rising Drug Costs
Premier has released nine policy recommendations designed to stimulate competitive markets for pharmaceuticals. These recommendations are a mixture of items that can be implemented in combination or as stand-alone reforms. The view the full recommendations, please visit the news section of the Premier website.