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The Healthcare Group Purchasing Industry Initiative (HGPII) today convened a Capitol Hill staff briefing on its eighth annual Report to the Public, a comprehensive industry review that found that group purchasing organizations (GPOs) consistently maintain high ethical standards and business practices promoting innovation, transparency in the bidding process and compliance. HGPII Co-Coordinators former Representative Phil English (R-PA) and former Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Robert Bennett (R-UT) oversaw the review process and organized the briefing today. “At a time when healthcare providers are being challenged by an unprecedented level of systemic change, it is critical that the healthcare supply chain be managed with best practices and the highest ethical standards,” said HGPII Coordinator and former Representative Phil English. “As the result of our comprehensive review of the industry, HGPII is pleased to announce that our findings demonstrate that our member organizations are conforming to our charter and founding principles. Our independent evaluation of every participating GPO confirms that the group purchasing sector is being managed with transparency and professionalism, with tangible benefits for the public. The initiative is pleased to confirm that the group purchasing organizations we have surveyed have sustained their commitment to contracting processes that promote quality and value in the healthcare system.” HGPII is an independent, voluntary organization that was founded in 2005 as a non-profit organization by the chief executives of those healthcare GPOs who thought the industry should do more collectively to demonstrate a strong commitment to ethical values. HGPII promotes the development and improvement of accountability standards, business practices, and ethics to its customers, vendors, and the public to help create higher industry standards for quality and value. “HGPII members have participated in a rigorous proactive review of their business practices as well as ethical and compliance standards and remain dedicated to the mission of sound business practices, transparency and delivering high quality and cost-effective healthcare products and services to customers,” said HGPII Co-Coordinator and former Senator Byron Dorgan. “Transparency and accountability are essential to reducing healthcare costs. Since its inception, HGPII has used initiatives like its annual Report to the Public to help maintain a high level of transparency within the group purchasing industry and to continue the ongoing critical conversation about GPO industry best practices. Healthcare GPOs across the United States continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to transparency by voluntarily enforcing the highest ethical standards in the healthcare sector, which is why virtually all of America’s 5,000+ hospitals turn to GPOs to deliver the best products and services at the best value,” said Curtis Rooney, President of the Healthcare Supply Chain Association. To review the full findings of the HGPII report, please visit www.healthcaregpoii.com.