SharedClarity Member Health Systems to Reach $100 Million in Savings by End of 2016

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

SharedClarity, the medical device analysis and strategic sourcing group committed to promoting positive patient outcomes, is on pace to save its member-owners a total of $100 million on devices by the end of 2016.

The company, which launched in April 2013, conducts clinical reviews of high-impact medical devices and negotiates market-leading prices on the physician-reviewed and selected products.

SharedClarity has awarded purchasing contracts for coronary and peripheral stents, cardiac rhythm management devices (pacemakers and defibrillators) and surgical mesh for breast reconstructive and hernia repair surgeries during the past three years.

"Our members have enjoyed significant savings with just the first few categories of devices," said SharedClarity President Mark West, who helped form the startup. "With large categories on the horizon, such as orthopedic trauma, the savings for our membership are expected to increase substantially."

SharedClarity member-owners are UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealthcare Group UNH company, San Francisco-based Dignity Health, Illinois-based Advocate Health Care, Texas-based Baylor Scott & White Health and Michigan-based McLaren Health Care. SharedClarity's plans include adding four health system members.

"We've been extremely pleased with our investment and membership in SharedClarity," said Dave Mazurkiewicz, Chief Financial Officer of McLaren Health Care. "We've saved millions of dollars on quality medical devices."

Non-member health systems can also purchase medical devices as customers under SharedClarity. Customers benefit by accessing the same high-impact medical products SharedClarity members use, at preferred discount pricing.

Member-owner physicians conduct clinical reviews by evaluating utilization data, assessing published literature on the medical devices, and performing focus group sessions with colleagues in their delivery organizations before selecting the high-impact products. Multiple companies and devices can be selected in each category.

"It's an extremely demanding and detailed process," said Dr. Alex McLaren, a former orthopedic surgeon who recently joined SharedClarity as Vice President of Clinical Outcomes. "Physicians are selecting the effective devices after a lengthy and thoughtful review."

Following the review, SharedClarity establishes contracts with the manufacturers of the medical devices, and the manufacturers receive a committed percentage of orders from the SharedClarity member-owners.

Member-owners benefit from market-leading prices on the physician-reviewed- and -selected products. In addition, they may also benefit from improved patient outcomes and reduced readmissions, which could generate more savings.

"SharedClarity offers quality products at an affordable cost," said Michael Georgulis, Vice President of Strategic Sourcing for SharedClarity. "We are committed to promoting positive patient outcomes while saving our members millions of dollars on high-impact medical products."

About SharedClarity

SharedClarity is a unique joint venture between health care systems and UnitedHealthcare that uses clinical data to study the effectiveness of high-impact medical products. SharedClarity uses the results of the studies to select effective medical devices for patients and negotiate market-leaving purchasing agreements with manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.SharedClarity.net.

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