FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 27, 2015 – Andover, Mass., and Kansas City, Mo. – Yankee Alliance announces a new contract with Sizewise Worldwide, a global medical manufacturer, to provide long-term-care (LTC) equipment for its healthcare provider members. With more than 20 years of experience, Sizewise has been designing and producing diversified lines of innovative healthcare equipment to serve patient needs ranging from bariatric to pediatric. Participating members will have access to Sizewise long-term care products including therapeutic support surfaces, beds, wheelchairs and other mobility items that have been engineered in the U.S.

“As an industry leader, Sizewise brings a breadth of experience and innovative product mix to help positively impact patient outcomes,” said Craig Shoukimas, Yankee Alliance Vice President, Contracting, “Through Sizewise, our members will be able to receive pre-negotiated contract pricing on many of their long-term care products. This partnership will be a great asset in helping our members decrease their healthcare costs.”

This agreement will help serve the needs of a critical population in the most cost effective manner. In 2012, total spending for long-term care was $219.9 billion and is projected to increase to $345 billion by 2040, according to a report by the National Health Policy Forum.

“Sizewise has provided patients of all sizes and ability the necessary equipment and technology to produce positive outcomes,” said Andrew Baron, Sizewise Regional Vice President. “With an estimated 12 million Americans in need of long-term care support, it’s important to supply patients with the right equipment for their needs. We look forward to working with Yankee Alliance to ensure an appropriate continuum of care for each patient.”

Once a physician uncovers a need for long-term care equipment, a Yankee Alliance member can order the appropriate product and Sizewise will ship, assemble and train care givers and patients how to properly use the device, billing Yankee Alliance directly – alleviating any extra steps for the patient. The only financial responsibility on the patient is any deductibles or coinsurance payments specified in the particular network plan.

Yankee Alliance members will have access to this benefit immediately.

About Sizewise Worldwide

Sizewise is a privately owned, global medical equipment manufacturer with more than 20 years of experience engineering innovative products to meet the needs of bariatric, geriatric, pediatric and standard patient populations. Produced in four manufacturing plants and supplied in over 65 distribution centers nationwide, Sizewise offers a range of American-made specialty therapeutic surfaces; intelligent bed frames and mobility equipment. Sizewise Worldwide is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo. For more information about Sizewise and its products visit, www.sizewise.net or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sizewise.realtherapyforrealpeople, Twitter at @Sizewise or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/sizewise.

For more information please contact: Leslie Marshall, Muller Bressler Brown Agency for Sizewise, at 816-300-6306 or at lmarshall@mbbagency.com.

About Yankee Alliance

Yankee Alliance is a member-driven healthcare group purchasing organization founded in 1984 on a belief in collaboration, that working together can achieve more than working alone. Our mission is twofold: to work with members to reduce supply and operating expenses through aggregation of data, purchasing, ideas and knowledge and to excel in strategic innovations that continually assist members in reducing their cost while recognizing their individual needs. In 2015 Yankee Alliance remains true to the foundational belief in collaboration and has grown to over 11,400 members in all classes of trades across all 50 states. For more information visit www.yankeealliance.com.

For more information please contact; Amy Campbell, Senior Vice President, Administration, Yankee Alliance, (978) 470-2000 or at acampbell@yankeealliance.com.