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CONSORTA, INC. FINALIZES AGREEMENT TO BECOME SIXTH EQUITY OWNER IN HEALTHTRUST PURCHASING GROUP

Schaumburg, Ill., April 18, 2007 - Consorta, Inc. and HealthTrust Purchasing Group, LP, two of the nation's leading healthcare group purchasing organizations, today finalized the agreement that establishes Consorta as the sixth equity owner in HealthTrust.

The combination of the two companies creates the nation's fourth largest group purchasing organization (GPO), with more than $13 billion in combined volume. "As an equity owner of HealthTrust, we will be able to offer members the best overall contract value and return among all GPOs," explained John W. Strong, Consorta's president and chief executive officer.

According to Strong, during the first five years of the partnership, Consorta forecasts that the combination will provide shareholders and members with $535 million in cost savings, via price reductions and broader coverage afforded by HealthTrust's portfolio. All 12 Consorta shareholders are participating in the combination, along with Consorta affiliates.

"We are very pleased to have these outstanding Consorta shareholders and affiliates as new members of HealthTrust," said Jim Fitzgerald, president of HealthTrust. "While it validates our unique model and value-proposition, I'm even more excited about the potential to strengthen our competitive position. We'll refresh all of our contracts over the next 18 months, delivering added value to all HealthTrust members."

HealthTrust will be responsible for all GPO Operations, including contracting. Consorta will remain an independent organization, serving as its shareholders' voice on the HealthTrust Board of Advisors, and on HealthTrust clinical advisory boards to guide product selection. Consorta will also provide educational and analytical programs and manage member compliance for its shareholders.

"This combination holds great promise for each Consorta shareholder, and I believe it will yield tremendous benefit in shared best practices, in addition to the economic value," said Lou Fierens, Consorta Board Chair and senior vice president, Supply Chain Management and Capital Projects at Trinity Health.

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