Frequently Asked Questions

Become A Member

What is AdvantageTrust?

AdvantageTrust is a group purchasing organization (GPO) that provides non-acute care sites—ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices, long-term care and alternate care sites— and nonprofits with access to the same contracts HealthTrust has established for its hospital members. Our medical supply and pharmaceutical distribution partners specialize in serving non-acute market segments, offering low units of measure and timely committed schedules for delivery.

What exactly is a GPO?

A group purchasing organization is a purchasing cooperative or collective. It leverages the collective volume of member hospitals, surgery centers, clinics and other organizations to negotiate pricing on products and services. Members continue to purchase directly from their distributor or contracted supplier but the established pricing, price protections, payment terms, freight terms and other terms and conditions are pre-established between the GPO and supplier. The GPO manages the details of the contracts.

Is there a cost to participate in the program?

There is no cost to join AdvantageTrust. Membership requires an exclusive GPO commitment and 80 percent compliance to our portfolio. Our contracting model is one-price-for-all and agreements are not predicated on an individual facility’s volume or spend.

Who is eligible to join?

Large or small healthcare businesses or nonprofit organizations are eligible to participate.

Can my organization belong to more than one group purchasing organization?

Our members are solely committed to AdvantageTrust as their exclusive national GPO. Suppliers reward us with best-in-market pricing in categories where we have standardized and delivered broad compliance to our contracts.

What if a supplier I currently use is not on your list of contracted suppliers?

We will work with your current vendors that are not part of our contract portfolio to ensure that you have pricing coverage during transition. We will then work with you to map out a conversion plan to move those contracts to AdvantageTrust during the next 6-12 months.

How do we know the agreements we can access through AdvantageTrust provide better pricing than we are already getting?

Due to our large volume and committed model, members can generally expect to save 8–12 percent on supplies depending on their purchasing mix.

Why is AdvantageTrust better than any other GPO?

No competitor can match our scale, which includes our affiliation with six of the top ten integrated delivery networks (IDNs). This scale ensures that our membership can drive the marketplace through contract adoption and value creation.

How do I become a member?

The enrollment process is straight-forward and simple. Once processed, electronic membership documents will be sent for your online signature through DocuSign®. Generally, the membership process takes less than one week. After receipt of your signature, you will be provided with your AdvantageTrust GPOID# (an identification number specific to your facility that allows vendors to link your account to our discounted pricing). Our customer service team will work closely with your distributor and your staff to assure our pricing is extended to your facility.

Who decides which supplier is awarded a contract?

We pursue a rigorous product vetting and approval process led by experienced supply chain executives and clinical advisory boards. The process ensures alignment to the highest quality products at the industry’s best prices.

I think I can do this myself. What are the benefits of using a GPO?

We aggregate the purchasing power of 1,600 acute-care hospitals and the largest health systems in the U.S. to generate one best price for all. Unlike other GPOs, there is no further local or regional negotiation needed to receive optimal value on core commodities—resulting in double-digit savings on the exact products from the same vendors you are using today, and returning valuable time to you to concentrate on mission-critical initiatives.

Does AdvantageTrust offer discounts with suppliers that are certified women- and minority-owned business enterprises?

Yes. Our Supplier Diversity program is considered a model in the industry and has grown to include minority, women and service disabled veteran-owned suppliers (MWSDVE) providing contracts representing over $300 million in annual contract volume.

Does AdvantageTrust contract with suppliers offering environmentally preferred products?

Yes. Concern for the environment is an important consideration in most purchasing decisions. At the heart of our sustainability initiative is our Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) program, which identifies key product or service attributes that may have an impact on the environment and human health. We have a member-led Environmental Sustainability Network to review EPP questions as part of the supplier selection process.

What if I still have additional questions?

We have dedicated resources available to answer your questions and learn more about the AdvantageTrust program. Our team can be contacted through email at memberservices@advantagetrustpg.com or by phone at 866.841.2992