$4 Billion Strategic Partnership Involves Exclusive Contracting
Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest non-profit healthcare plan and Bergen Brunswig, a healthcare supply channel management company, entered into a $4 billion, five-year prime vendor contract last week.
The agreement is a major marketing coup for Bergen, representing 70% of new business in the first year alone.
Under the agreement, Bergen will supply pharmaceutical products to Kaiser's facilities in 19 states and the District of Columbia while allowing them to test-drive new opportunities for strategic purchasing alliances.
The aim of the deep-pocket deal is to achieve cost-savings based on supply channel efficiencies. Among the new initiatives is Bergen's Time Inventory Management System that will be used at Kaiser sites in Southern California. (Bergen Brunswig, Lisa Riordan, 800/840-5131)
Advocacy Program Targets Children and Terminally Ill
Two Not-For-Profit healthcare systems are looking to the Web to promote two initiatives that enroll children in Medicaid and improve care for the terminally ill. The St. Louis-based Daughters of Charity National Health System (DCNHS) and Carondelet Health System launched a new Web site to raise awareness of their two campaigns, "Children's Health Matters" and "Community of Caring."
The combined Web site at http://www.dcnhs-advocacy.org, targets DCNHS and CNH facilities nationwide. It encourages advocacy officers to exchange ideas through chat rooms and encourages the community to get involved. Site features include:
- Background information about outreach programs sponsored by DCNHS and CHS;
- A resource guide that includes information on Medicaid requirements and gives pointers on how to enroll children in Medicaid;
- Tips on conducting focus group research for "Community of Caring" initiatives. (DCNHS, Patrick Cacchione, 314/253-6840)
Dental Partnership Rescues Kids' Smiles
A unique school-based community partnership is preserving children's smiles with a dental program. The partnership, funded by a grant from The California Endowment to The Dental Health Foundation, involves several schools in California, the Sierra Health Foundation and four dental plans.
The program is the first of its kind in the region. The goal is to reduce the high level of juvenile tooth decay. Last fall, The California Endowment issued a report that showed the rate among children with tooth decay in California is twice as high as the rest of the nation.
Through the two-year effort, launched last week, hundreds of Sacramento second- and sixth-grade students will get dental screenings, dental sealants and referrals for additional care.
The campaign is giving dental managed care plans a community image boost, says Dr. Robert Isman of The Dental Health Foundation.
The campaign is targeting Medi-Cal recipients, which is the state's Medicaid program and raising awareness of dental hygiene in community schools. (The Dental Health Foundation, Steve Hopcraft, 916/457-5546)