Will GPO reforms negate Senate showdown?

Even with all the bad press given to GPOs since the initial investigation by the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition, and Business and Consumer Rights, materials managers still value GPOs' role in health care. Many have stated that GPOs are evolving, becoming more flexible to help further meet the needs of hospitals. While the government frowns on the fees paid by hospitals, those in purchasing positions say that they gladly pay fees because of how effective GPO involvement is during contract negotiations.

Unlikely GPO partners unite. Could Consorta and Healthtrust's collaboration spark a trend among the nation's other top group purchasing organizations?

Consorta's deal to become the sixth equity owner in HealthTrust Purchasing Group could signal a wave of consolidation at group-purchasing organizations. HealthTrust's clinically based decisionmaking for product selection and contract compliance are what swayed Consorta's board, says Chairman Louis Fierens, left. "It's about the total value, and it is at the end of the day a fairly simple equation", Fierens says.