CONTRACT / SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT

Contract and supplier management services ensure rapid access to value and continuous market competitiveness. Novation constantly monitors market conditions and suppliers’ performance and adherence to contract terms. As appropriate, contracts are adjusted and enhanced to meet changing market dynamics and unique member needs.

Novation provides a central voice for members and works with suppliers to resolve issues and remove barriers to value. Additionally, Novation constantly reviews and evaluates products and services being developed by suppliers and provides a common voice for standardization on key issues like e-commerce, bar coding, and other areas for industry improvement.

Because of the value to members, Novation supports adoption of its contracts in collaboration with suppliers through awareness, marketing, clinical expertise, customer service and diversity.

Novation Supplier Site

Novation Contracted Suppliers also have access to our Novation Supplier Site, which provides timely access to news and information which allow suppliers to maximize their agreement with Novation, including membership information, online LOP management, contracting Guidebooks, supplier publications, supplier huddle registration and details on supplier specific programs.

Clinical Solutions

Studies indicate that health care organizations can achieve cost reductions of up to 14 percent through more efficient product standardization and utilization. Recognizing the value to be gained in this area, Novation has dedicated a team to the development and implementation of standardization and utilization programs. We also share programs and processes that have proven to be successful for other health care organizations. This continuum of education, tools and other resources helps members and supply partners work collaboratively to reduce costs.

Safety Initiative

Our comprehensive safety initiative promotes and enhances patient, employee and environmental safety. Through this initiative, Novation strives to increase member awareness of its safety-related contracted products; catalogs supplier safety initiatives; obtains member input on safety issues; keeps members informed about current safety issues; and incorporates safety specifications into the contract process.

Innovative Technology Evaluations

The intent of Novation’s new medical technology evaluation process is to identify devices or products that are used to diagnose or treat patients and that offer incremental benefits to patient care, patient safety or health care worker safety. When evaluating new medical technology proposals from suppliers, Novation considers factors such as whether the product is used to diagnose or treat patients, member interest in and demand for the technology, and advantages and disadvantages when compared with similar products. When appropriate, members with expertise specific to the proposed new technology and third-party sources will provide input into the assessment.

Plasma Program

Novation works directly with primary suppliers and Novation Authorized Distributors to provide participating VHA and UHC members competitive prices for plasma-derived pharmaceuticals, such as intravenous immune globulin, albumin and antihemophilic factor. The mission of the program is to match and coordinate participants' needs with the anticipated supply of plasma products available from the manufacturers. Program participants are first in line for product during periods of restricted supply. Members receive superior customer service from a dedicated team of expert staff, as well as utilization of an interactive Web-based management tool, the Plasma Program E-Manager. In addition, Novation empowers members by providing pertinent market intelligence and clinical resources for decisive action.

Publications

Novation communicates frequently with members through a variety of bulletins, newsletters and special publications. These communications help keep members up-to-date about new contracts, price changes, product shortages and recalls, industry news and the latest clinical information. All of these publications are also available on our Marketplace Web sites.