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Who qualifies to be an APS Participant?
All dues-paying Participants have a voice in the contract process through committees. Contract usage is not mandatory, but it is encouraged for the overall success of the group. Participants may base contract commitment on their organization’s individual needs. How to Join APS Participants are required to sign a Participation Agreement. This agreement simply attests to your interest in making use of agreements in the APS portfolio. APS is, in part, supported by dues paid by Participants. A substantial discount is available to members of the Missouri Hospital Association and the Kansas Hospital Association. Upon receipt of your completed Participation Agreement and dues payment by APS, contract vendors are notified of your eligibility for access to the terms of the APS agreements. Commitment to the National Group Purchasing Organization, MedAssets, is optional. However, additional documentation is required by MedAssets if an APS Participant decides to take advantage of the many benefits available through the national contract portfolio. What are the Participant requirements? APS Participants are required to sign a Participation Agreement. This agreement simply attests to your interest in making use of agreements in the APS portfolio. Upon receipt of your dues payment by APS, contract vendors are notified of your eligibility for access to the terms of the APS agreements. Commitment to the National Group Purchasing Organization, MedAssets, is optional. However, additional documentation is required by MedAssets if an APS Participant decides to take advantage of the many benefits available through the national contract portfolio. What type of contracts does APS offer its Participants? Regional Connection: APS develops regional agreements, providing access to products and services that are not typically available through national purchasing groups. These agreements often include non-clinical products that are priced or serviced more competitively at a local level. National Link: APS offers access to the MedAssets national contract portfolio of over 650,000 line items. The MedAssets portfolio provides convenient access to competitive contracts covering the majority of products and services. Are APS Participants obligated to use particular agreements? There are no agreements in the APS or MedAssets contract portfolios that are mandatory for any Participant. However, many of the agreements include incentives for Participants to maximize their savings through focused commitment. What services are provided by the APS staff? An APS representative is assigned to each APS Participant. The staff representative will assist your department leaders in their efforts to analyze and implement those contracts that have proven to contribute the greatest benefit to our Participants. In many cases, we can perform cost studies that assist your decision process. Staff is also prepared to help with communication to the suppliers, and will alert you to problems experienced by your peers. Are revenue share-back opportunities made available to APS Participants? Based on APS performance, participation fee refunds are made available through several APS regional agreements, as well as many MedAssets manufacturers. However, we prefer to offer discounts on the initial purchase of the product rather than through rebates based on purchases. How are contracts awarded? Contracts are typically the result of terms and specifications approved by the Participants. Contracts are issued by APS staff on behalf of and awarded by one of five departmental contracting committees. All dues-paying Participants are entitled to one vote on each committee. How is APS funded? There are two primary components of the APS revenue budget: dues and administrative fees. Each Participant pays modest dues in order to obtain access to the contract portfolios. These dues account for approximately 10% of the APS revenue budget. Contract vendors pay "administrative fees" based upon sales of products and services to the Participants. The administrative fees average less than three percent of sales and account for close to 90% of APS revenue. How is APS governed and staffed? A volunteer Board of Directors appointed by the The Health Alliance of Mid America governs APS. Staff is made available through a management contract with the Kansas Hospital Association. |
www.apsstaffing.org
· www.apsxchange.org
· www.epms.apskc.org |
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