TRENTON, NJ (March 20, 2008) --  Members of NJ Physicians are now eligible to participate in a Vaccine Buying Alliance to access substantial savings on vaccine products.

Offered in conjunction with Continuum Health Alliance, LLC (CHA), the vaccine program offers reduced costs to physicians who purchase vaccines.

"Every pediatrician knows that the vaccine portion of the pediatric visit is major financial factor in our practice of insuring the health of our young patients," said John M. Tedeschi, MD, CEO of Avocare and a founding member of NJ Physicians.  "Members of New Jersey Physicians are now able to reduce this burden through the Vaccine Buying Alliance."

The CHA Buying Alliance is already providing the negotiated purchasing rates to several hundred doctors.

Tedeschi said pediatricians are forced to look for innovative ways to reduce vaccine expenses -- without impacting patient care -- because of the high cost of delivering this crucial public service.
 
During the years of birth through 18, the cost of administering the mandated 26 shots has risen steadily in recent decades as more vaccines have been added, according to Kevin King, MD., a pediatrician in Advocare and vice president of the Vaccine Buying Alliance and medical supply contracting for CHA. On top of the hundreds of dollars per patient for the cost of the vaccine products, King said, doctors must absorb the cost of storing thousands of dollars worth of vaccines for practices, purchasing medical supplies, disposing of medical waste and other expenses. In the end, he said, doctors may lose money for the service of vaccinating patients.
 
"The fact of the matter is, there is no better delivery system for insuring that children are vaccinated than through their pediatrician's office. The vaccination schedule is in line with the need for well-care visits and doctors are best equipped to counsel parents and treat patients for any adverse reactions," Tedeschi said. "But if doctors are going to continue to provide this public service, we must be wise in our purchasing decisions."

Depending upon product lines available, and each manufacturer's pricing, the VBA offers a preferred portfolio of contracted vaccine products.

Currently, contracts are in place with Sanofi, Merck and MedImmune. These contracts provide the best annual cost reduction in vaccine purchasing.
 
Each physician or office location will arrange their own purchase, shipment, and payment of vaccine product directly with each manufacturer. NJ Physicians, CHA, and the VBA are not intermediaries in this transaction.

Tedeschi is the CEO of Advocare, formerly Children's Health Associates, one of the largest private healthcare groups in the nation.

NJ Physicians,  was launched in 2007 to address increasing concerns about the quality of medical care and the future of the practice of medicine.