BudgetMatch^SM Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is BudgetMatch^SM?

BudgetMatch^SM is a service that streamlines and simplifies the capital equipment budgeting process for hospitals and health systems. It also provides a more competitive estimate of your actual capital outlay, and up to 18% savings on equipment purchases, depending upon what service level you choose.

2. Who developed BudgetMatch^SM?

BudgetMatch^SM is a product of Amerinet, a group purchasing organization that promotes quality health care delivery and helps all types of providers more effectively manage their total spend.

The services and software of BudgetMatch^SM have been co-developed in a unique partnership between Amerinet and MEMdata, a technology management firm that specializes in capital equipment procurement, budgeting, research, planning and related activities for healthcare organizations.

3. What will BudgetMatch^SM do for my organization?

BudgetMatch^SM provides the following features and benefits surrounding the capital equipment budgeting function:

• A central repository of your capital equipment budget data stored online.
• Hardbound budget binders for key staff members at your hospital or health system.
• Line item contract matching from the Amerinet capital equipment supplier portfolio.
• Both online access and hardcopies of your Amerinet Contract Data Sheets (CDS) matching your equipment needs with contracted suppliers.
• The ability to update your budget, including additions and deletions of line items, throughout the dynamic budgeting process.
• Automated charting and summaries by department and calendar quarter.
• The ability to forecast the calendar quarter in which a specific item will be purchased.
• The ability to track actual purchases as they are made throughout the fiscal year.
• Unlimited ability to update, save and print your budget as changes are made prior to finalizing.
• Exportable to Excel or Acrobat.
• Depreciation Schedules (Useful Lives) of all assets in your Capital Budget. (Under Options 2 & 3 only)
• An accurate forecast of your expected actual capital equipment cost versus budgetary quotations, which tend to be significantly higher. This key feature provides a highly accurate capital allocation forecast, ensuring additional critical patient care and support assets can be included within your limited capital equipment funding availability. (Under Options 2 & 3 only)
• Unlimited licensing and access to the system for your personnel. (Under Options 2 & 3 only)
• Up to 18% savings available to your hospital or health system on your entire capital equipment budget (Under Option 3 only).

4. Who from my organization can access BudgetMatch^SM?

Under Option 1, one license is provided. Under Option 2 & 3, all personnel you specify may access BudgetMatch^SM and use it throughout the budget deliberation process. This ensures one centralized place to capture budget data, rather than individual spreadsheets and documents maintained throughout the hospital or health system. This approach also eliminates the need to repeatedly collect numerous documents from outlying departments and combine them into one repeatedly.

5. What are the fees for these services?

In a unique cost-sharing collaboration between MEMdata and Amerinet, BudgetMatch^SM services are free or significantly discounted for Amerinet members. They are based upon the service level you choose:

• Option 1: Contract Matching Only. Free to Amerinet members. 1 License.

  BudgetMatch^SM Option 1 is free to Amerinet members, or those hospitals and health systems actively considering the group purchasing services of Amerinet. Option 1 simply matches your capital equipment needs to the appropriate Amerinet Contract Data Sheet (CDS) for the contracted supplier(s). It does not include the identification of competitive capital equipment pricing or depreciation schedules. One license to access and utilize the BudgetMatch^SM software is included.

• Option 2: All BudgetMatch^SM Services Included. One time fee of $100 per $1,000,000 in budget value. Unlimited Licenses.

  Under Option 2, a capital equipment budget of $10,000,000 would cost the member only $1,000 for unlimited access for one fiscal year. This one time fee is due upon the completion of your budget review, with no further fees for the remainder of the fiscal year. This option includes both competitive pricing and depreciation schedules, on a line item basis.

• Option 3 (Includes MEMdata’s Performer Elite program): All Amerinet BudgetMatch^SM , MEMdata Performer Elite and EquippingHospitals.com Services and Software included with Unlimited Licensing.

  Competitive pricing is not only identified, but savings on your total capital budget up to 18% is obtained under Option 3. Discounted annual fee is based upon hospital or health system size and capital budget. MEMdata will forward a proposal for your review and consideration of this option. Annual fee is guaranteed by capital equipment purchase savings, or any shortfall is refunded. Fees are paid in monthly installments.

6. What is included in Option 3?

1. All Amerinet BudgetMatch^SM services as described above, with unlimited licensing and staff member access.

2. MEMdata’s Performer Elite Program. This performance-based service will achieve the savings identified on your BudgetMatch^SM capital equipment budget review. Fees for Performer Elite are guaranteed by savings, or any shortfall refunded. If you select Option 3 before December 31st, 2007, your BudgetMatch^SM fees are also credited back to you. Click here to review MEMdata’s Contract Data Sheet regarding Performer Elite and other services.

3. Free Subscription to EquippingHospitals.com, a capital equipment toolkit of web-based resources which includes:

• Device Recalls and Safety Alerts - Stay informed regarding FDA mandated and voluntary manufacturer recalls.
• eRFP – A Request For Proposal (RFP) generator that you can customize for your organization to create formal RFP documents in seconds.
• PriceGuard – A quotation review service providing hyper-accurate pricing analysis and benchmarking on any configured quote you submit for review, as well as additional critical data, for each equipment need.
• Life Cycle Cost Analysis – Calculate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Return On Investment (ROI) of potential medical equipment investments with the Life Cycle Cost Analysis calculator.
• Equipment Depreciation Schedules – Search a database of approximately 1200 capital equipment items to determine useful lives for depreciation purposes.
• ComplyCheck – Determine and track the level of Joint Commission® compliance in your capital equipment program measured against the Elements of Performance (EPs) pertaining to capital equipment. (MEMdata is not affiliated with, or endorsed by The Joint Commission®.)
• FastFacts – Compare equipment specifications side-by-side with comprehensive data on equipment models, with product images and performance measures.
• Fair Market Valuator – Determine the Fair Market Value of assets currently in inventory, with different values based on equipment condition.
• News – Comprehensive news regarding equipment manufacturers, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and more.
• New Devices - Research new technology releases, including FDA Pre-Market approvals, Works In Progress (WIP) and product updates from the hospital equipment market.
• Calculators – Calculate interest rates and payment terms, make lease versus finance decisions. Calculate ROI, and more.
• See www.equippinghospitals.com for more information on these powerful and affordable web-based applications. (Free under Option 3).

7. How do I sign up for BudgetMatch^SM?

1. Go to www.amerinet-gpo.com or www.memdata.com and click the “Amerinet Members” button. Simply complete the form provided and select the service option you prefer.

2. A comprehensive review of your budget is completed as we match the appropriate equipment entries with your Amerinet capital equipment portfolio Contract Data Sheets (CDS). If you select Option 2 or 3, each equipment entry on your budget will also be price benchmarked, with competitive pricing added. The asset’s useful life, or depreciation schedule, is also provided for your convenience.

3. Upon completion, a user name and password will be assigned to you, and an Amerinet or MEMdata representative will schedule a live demo and short 10 minute training session to begin utilizing the user-friendly and powerful features of BudgetMatch^SM immediately.

8. What if I have questions or need assistance after the demo?

Amerinet and MEMdata are committed to the very best in member services. A help desk is available Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, Central time. Simply call toll free (866) 695-1950 and dial “0” for immediate assistance from a representative.

9. Is my budget data safe?

Yes. Your budget database is password protected utilizing 128-bit encryption technology. In addition, you have our total commitment to the confidentiality of your information.

10. What file format is required for my budget?

An electronic, formatted spreadsheet is required. Microsoft Excel is preferred, but most electronic file formats can be accommodated.

11. Are there any software downloads or conversions required to utilize this service?

Only a PDF viewer, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader™, is required. No conversions are necessary. MEMdata uses the Internet standard PDF file format. This is a common file format (.PDF) that allows documents to be to be easily viewed and / or printed so that formatting is not lost. Viewing PDF files requires a special viewer, usually a standard install for most computers. We recommend Adobe Reader since it is free and usually already installed on most computers. If it is not already installed, it can be downloaded from Adobe by clicking here. You may need permission from your computer management group before installing software.

12. Do I have to sign up with MEMdata to use BudgetMatch^SM?

No.

13. Do I have to utilize Amerinet equipment contracts to use BudgetMatch^SM?

No.

14. How long will it take to complete my BudgetMatch^SM?

Approximately two weeks.

15. At what point in the budget process should I begin using BudgetMatch^SM?

At any time. Because you can update it, track changes, and print repeatedly, you can start any time.

16. I already have a system to create and track my budget. Why use BudgetMatch^SM?

Because we believe we have designed the best, most affordable and user-friendly system available. In addition, we know of no other system that provides the competitive price forecasting and actual cost reductions of BudgetMatch^SM.

17. My budget changes a lot before it is completed. Does BudgetMatch^SM address this?

Yes! BudgetMatch^SM allows you to change your budget as many times as necessary before finalizing it; you simply make your changes as needed, print out the latest version, and insert it into the binder provided.

18. Why are Amerinet and MEMdata offering BudgetMatch^SM?

Amerinet and MEMdata, and most importantly our members, have enjoyed a highly successful partnership which began in 2004. From the beginning, both organizations shared a vision to improve one of the most challenging areas of total spend management in healthcare…capital equipment.

Through this exclusive partnership, Amerinet members and MEMdata clients have experienced millions in real, documented cost reduction in capital equipment procurement and services.

BudgetMatch^SM represents the latest step in an ongoing vision to provide fundamental change, enhanced services, and critically important cost reduction services to members. We hope you decide to enroll in the program.

19. Who should I call for more information?

• Matt Short, MEMdata Chief Technology Officer. (866) 695-1950 x103
• Mike Reid, Amerinet Senior Director, Construction, Capital & Facility Services (877) 711-5600 x223