Novation Announces the Addition of Cardiac Rhythm Management Product Supplier BIOTRONIK

IRVING, Texas, April 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Novation, the leading health care supply contracting company, announced today the addition of BIOTRONIK (Lake Oswego, OR) to its Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Devices portfolio. This new 30-month agreement represents the first collaboration between the respective organizations. Effective April 15, 2011, the collaboration between Novation and BIOTRONIK will open access to products with many new options for the members of VHA Inc., the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) and Provista.

The two companies are looking forward to their new partnership as Dan Schlewitz, executive vice president of sales for BIOTRONIK, describes, "BIOTRONIK will invest in opportunities and we are enthusiastic about this newly forged relationship with Novation and the member hospitals it serves.  This agreement acknowledges our commitment to continued growth in the U.S. as well as our excellent reputation for product quality and reliability".

BIOTRONIK is known for innovating high quality technological advancements designed to provide maximum reliability for patients with cardiac arrhythmias. During the process, members of VHA Inc., UHC and Provista fully supported the addition of BIOTRONIK to Novation's robust CRM portfolio. The reputation for reliability and high quality that BIOTRONIK has established in the CRM space contributed in the decision process.

"BIOTRONIK has proven its commitment to provide a complete offering of arrhythmia management products that meet our demands for CRM products of the highest quality," said Michael J. Vintges, MS, FACCA, FAAMA vice president, contract and program services at Novation. "Their capabilities are aligned with our member service objectives, and they bring a value commitment aligned with the one we make to members we serve. Importantly, we observe that BIOTRONIK is establishing itself as a leader in support of academic medical centers."

This agreement will allow the members of VHA Inc., UHC and Provista to utilize the following BIOTRONIK products:

• Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD)
• Heart Failure Devices (CRT-D)
• Pacemakers
• The Home Monitoring System and Service Center
• Leads & Lead Delivery Systems
• CRM Accessories

About Novation

Founded in 1998, Novation is the leading health care supply contracting company for more than 25,000 members of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), two national health care alliances, and 5,500 members of Provista, LLC, representing 28,000 sites. Novation provides alliance members contract, price and spend management services. Based in Irving, Texas, Novation develops and manages competitive contracts with more than 600 suppliers. VHA, UHC and Provista members used Novation contracts to purchase nearly $39 billion in 2010.

SOURCE Novation