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CONSORTA JOINS FORCES WITH MEDASSETS ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS TO DECREASE COSTS AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES FOR ITS MEMBERS

Schaumburg, Ill., January 15, 2007 - Consorta, Inc., a leading healthcare group purchasing and resource management organization, and MedAssets, Inc., a cash flow improvement company, today announced they have entered into an agreement to provide Consorta shareholders and participants nationwide with MedAssets Analytical Systems' supply chain management services and technology. MedAssets Analytical Systems tools will offer Consorta and its members increased transparency into their supply chain operations in order to enhance decision making, improve contract compliance, and aid Consorta in attracting new shareholders. The agreement is effective February 1, 2007.

"Our new relationship with MedAssets Analytical Systems will greatly benefit our shareholders and Consorta," said, Joseph Ciccolo, Senior Vice President, Support Services, Caritas Christi Health Care System and member of Consorta's Executive Committee. "It will not only help us meet our system's goals to reduce supply chain costs by rendering our spend data in a more usable and actionable state, but it will also assist Consorta in developing a program that the shareholders view as essential for Consorta's continued success and growth."

MedAssets Analytical Systems' Strategic Information Services aggregates, normalizes and analyzes supply chain data from single or multiple facilities and provides greater transparency and control of the total supply spend. Information is compiled and provided in actionable formats such as opportunity analyses and executive summaries to clearly identify specific courses of action. Strategic Information monitors and maintains the accuracy and compliance levels of Consorta's national group purchasing and members' locally negotiated contracts. Additionally, on an "as-requested" basis, MedAssets Analytical Systems' Client Item File Services can be engaged to assist in standardization and maintenance of individual shareholders' supply item files.

"The objective of the MedAssets and Consorta collaboration is to help our shareholders and their members reach their savings goals faster," explained Anna Fox, Vice President, Contract Operations and Data Management at Consorta. "Without tools and processes to normalize spend data, it becomes nearly impossible to identify timely opportunities. By offering established and proven supply chain services and technology to our members, we will increase contract compliance and capture the fees and rebates that are owed to our shareholders." Fox added that "Consorta performed significant due diligence to identify the right technology partner, and at the conclusion a decision was made to align with MedAssets Analytical Systems."

"We are pleased to work with Consorta in providing our supply chain technology and services to its member facilities," stated Mike Cassady, President, MedAssets Analytical Systems. "The efficiencies and transparency created with our tools will directly and positively impact the bottom line of the individual facilities, and in turn, positively affect the entire Consorta organization."

About MedAssets
MedAssets partners with healthcare providers to improve operating margins and cash flow while supporting quality of care goals. MedAssets implements integrated solutions to address the greatest opportunities for financial and process improvement and drives performance in revenue cycle, supply chain and clinical service line management. MedAssets is a business partner to more than 2,400 hospitals and 25,000 non-acute care healthcare providers. For more information, go to www.medassets.com. 

About Consorta
Consorta, based in suburban Chicago, is a leading healthcare resource management and group purchasing organization (GPO) whose shareholders are faith-based or non-profit health systems. Consorta's 11 shareholder healthcare systems represent 60 percent of all Catholic hospitals in the United States, and are among the leading integrators of non-profit healthcare in America. Consorta's membership now encompasses more than 3,200 care sites representing 78,000 patient care beds. This includes more than 450 acute and over 200 extended care facilities throughout the country. Though it’s Advantage Program, Consorta provides contract purchasing power for some of the nation's leading non-profit organizations. As an equity owner in HealthTrust Purchasing Group, the nations third largest GPO with over 1,300 not-for-profit and for-profit acute care hospitals well as over 3,000 ambulatory surgery centers, alternate care sites and physician practices, Consorta provides increasing levels of supply chain value to our shareholders and members.

Press Contact:
Kevin Conway
kconway@consorta.com
847-592-7979