In the latest episode of the MGMA Insights Business Solutions Podcast, Sr. Editor and host Daniel Williams, sits down with Casey Benefield, Senior Director of National Account Sales at MGMA BestPrice, and Christy Farrow, Director of Channel Partnerships at HealthTrust.

Their conversation focused on a challenge many medical practice leaders know all too well — rising supply and service costs paired with limited time and leverage to negotiate better pricing. The discussion highlights how MGMA BestPrice, MGMA’s exclusive group purchasing organization (GPO), helps MGMA members lower costs across clinical and non‑clinical categories without disrupting existing workflows, vendor relationships, or ordering processes.

What Is MGMA BestPrice — and Why It Matters Now

MGMA BestPrice is a free, no‑risk group purchasing program available exclusively to MGMA members. Through its partnership with HealthTrust, one of the country's largest healthcare GPOs, MGMA BestPrice leverages collective buying power to negotiate competitive pricing on a wide range of products and services.

“A group purchasing organization, or a GPO, leverages its members’ collective buying power to enhance purchasing efficiency and negotiate better terms,” Farrow explained. “For example, a medical practice manager could save thousands annually on essentials like gloves, syringes, and pharmaceuticals through a GPO, freeing up resources to improve patient care and operations.”

Designed for Practices of All Sizes and Specialties

One of the most common misconceptions about GPOs is that they primarily benefit large health systems. Benefield pushed back on that assumption, emphasizing that MGMA BestPrice supports healthcare organizations of all sizes — from small independent practices to large multi‑site groups.

The program serves a broad range of settings and specialties, including:

• Primary care practices
• Specialty practices such as cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, urology, and women’s health
• Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs)
• Long‑term care and skilled nursing organizations
• Federally qualified health centers and nonprofit providers

Smaller practices, in particular, benefit from gaining access to the same pricing tiers used by hospitals and integrated delivery networks, without needing the spend volume or staff resources to negotiate contracts independently.

Savings That Extend Beyond Medical Supplies

While medical and surgical supplies are often the first category that comes to mind, MGMA BestPrice contracts extend far beyond the clinical space. Members can access discounted pricing across a wide range of operational categories, including:

• Pharmaceuticals and medical supplies
• Surgical and diagnostic equipment
• Office supplies and furniture
• IT products and services
• Waste management, shredding, and laundry
• Freight, shipping, and medical gases
• Travel services, including rental cars

“By joining MGMA BestPrice, medical practices can save up to 20% on their medical supplies and purchased service expense,” said Benefield. “We also have a lot of great contract opportunities in non‑medical or non‑clinical purchase service areas as well.”

No Workflow Changes Required

One of the most compelling aspects of MGMA BestPrice is what practices don’t have to change.

Practices keep:

• Their existing distributors
• Their current vendor relationships
• Their ordering platforms and processes

Once enrolled, MGMA BestPrice’s implementation and onboarding team works behind the scenes to ensure contracted pricing and tiers are properly loaded with vendors and distributors. Members are supported by a dedicated account manager who helps optimize contract utilization over time.

Farrow, drawing from her own experience as a former practice manager, noted that many leaders unknowingly negotiate contracts that already exist within MGMA BestPrice — often without the price protections and long‑term stability those contracts provide.

Proven Results for MGMA Members

“In 2025 alone, MGMA BestPrice helped more than 4,500 MGMA members save over $25.3 million,” said Farrow, underscoring the consistent value of the program. 

For those practice leaders who want to understand potential savings before enrolling, MGMA BestPrice offers complimentary cost analyses. Practices can submit recent purchasing data to receive a detailed comparison between current spend and MGMA BestPrice contract pricing — including both exact‑match and conversion savings opportunities.

How to Get Started

MGMA members can:

• Visit https://www.mgmabestprice.org
• Call 844‑234‑6462

After enrolling, an MGMA BestPrice account manager will reach out to guide the onboarding process and, if requested, conduct a complimentary cost analysis.