MedAssets Supply Chain Systems announced yesterday an exclusive affiliate agreement with M Cubed Medical, a newly formed specialty group purchasing organization headquartered in Webster City, Iowa. M Cubed Medical serves the non-acute care market including physician practices, clinics and ambulatory surgery centers. The multi-year agreement was effective April 1, 2007.

"M Cubed Medical is excited to be affiliated with MedAssets to bring hospital level pricing to the physician," stated Marty Nichols, CEO M Cubed Medical.

According to Business Wire, M Cubed Medical has developed a strategy that congregates the collective economic power of physicians across the country to bring the same improved cost and efficiencies already seen in physician-owned ambulatory surgery centers to the supply side of the business while maintaining a fair profit margin for manufacturers. The affiliation with MedAssets will provide additional savings opportunities and access to MedAssets' CDQuick®, a best-of-breed contract catalog.

"By utilizing MedAssets' group purchasing contracts and technology, physicians and other non-acute care providers will save money on purchases for common medical supplies, office supplies, business services, pharmaceuticals, and capital equipment," stated Gary Green, senior vice president, MedAssets Supply Chain Systems. "In the current environment of shrinking physician reimbursements, doctors are looking for ways to decrease costs without sacrificing quality of care. The affiliation of M Cubed Medical and MedAssets will allow this to occur."