Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about how MERGE can benefit your practice. If you have any questions that aren't listed here, please feel free to reach out to us!
Q. What is a healthcare GPO and how does it work?
Q. What is a healthcare GPO and how does it work?
Answer: A healthcare group purchasing organization (GPO) helps healthcare organizations reduce purchasing costs by negotiating contracts with manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and service providers on behalf of a larger group of members. By combining the purchasing power of many healthcare organizations, a GPO can negotiate competitive pricing and contract terms that an individual organization may not be able to access on its own.
Q. Is it free to join a healthcare GPO?
Q. Is it free to join a healthcare GPO?
Answer: MERGE membership is free. There are no membership fees or purchasing commitments required to join. Members gain access to a broad portfolio of competitively negotiated contracts and can choose which opportunities make sense for their organization.
Q. What is the difference between a GPO and a Medical Supply Distributor?
Q. What is the difference between a GPO and a Medical Supply Distributor?
Answer: A healthcare group purchasing organization (GPO) and a medical supply distributor play different roles in the purchasing process. A GPO negotiates contracts with manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers to help its members access competitive pricing and contract terms. A medical supply distributor, on the other hand, sells and delivers products directly to healthcare organizations.
In simple terms, the GPO helps negotiate the pricing, while the distributor helps fulfill the order.
In simple terms, the GPO helps negotiate the pricing, while the distributor helps fulfill the order.
Q. Can I keep ordering through my current medical supply distributor?
Q. Can I keep ordering through my current medical supply distributor?
Answer: Yes. If you currently purchase medical supplies through McKesson, you can continue ordering through your existing McKesson account after joining MERGE. There is no need to change how or where you place your orders. MERGE works with McKesson to connect eligible GPO contracts to your account. Once the appropriate contracts are loaded, you can access MERGE-contracted pricing on qualifying products while continuing to order directly through McKesson as you normally would.
(MERGE does not sell, stock, or ship medical supplies. Our role is to help connect members with competitively negotiated contracts and work with McKesson to make those contracts available through their existing purchasing relationship.
This allows you to take advantage of GPO savings while keeping the familiar ordering, account management, and delivery process you already use with McKesson.)
(MERGE does not sell, stock, or ship medical supplies. Our role is to help connect members with competitively negotiated contracts and work with McKesson to make those contracts available through their existing purchasing relationship.
This allows you to take advantage of GPO savings while keeping the familiar ordering, account management, and delivery process you already use with McKesson.)
Q. How do I choose the right Healthcare GPO?
Q. How do I choose the right Healthcare GPO?
Answer: Choosing the right healthcare group purchasing organization (GPO) starts with understanding your organization’s purchasing needs and evaluating how well a GPO’s contract portfolio, supplier relationships, and membership model align with them. Look for a GPO that offers contracts across the products and services your organization purchases most frequently, including medical-surgical supplies, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, equipment, technology, office supplies, and business services. A broad contract portfolio can create more opportunities to find savings across your organization’s total spend.
It is also important to consider how the GPO works with your existing medical supply distributor. The right GPO should make it easy to access contracted pricing without unnecessarily disrupting the purchasing processes and supplier relationships that already work for your organization.
Finally, understand the GPO’s membership requirements. Consider whether there are membership fees, minimum purchasing commitments, mandatory contracts, or restrictions on which suppliers you can use. A GPO should provide purchasing opportunities while allowing your organization to make the decisions that best fit its needs.
It is also important to consider how the GPO works with your existing medical supply distributor. The right GPO should make it easy to access contracted pricing without unnecessarily disrupting the purchasing processes and supplier relationships that already work for your organization.
Finally, understand the GPO’s membership requirements. Consider whether there are membership fees, minimum purchasing commitments, mandatory contracts, or restrictions on which suppliers you can use. A GPO should provide purchasing opportunities while allowing your organization to make the decisions that best fit its needs.
Thinking about enrolling with a GPO?
Thinking about enrolling with a GPO?
Membership with MERGE is completely free, there is no cost or commitment to join, and you can terminate your membership at any time.
Got any other questions?
Got any other questions?
Feel free to contact our team who is ready to assist you with your needs. We provide fast and comprehensive assistance.
Call us at: 888-443-0858 Email us at: support@mergegpo.com