People In Brief
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Blair Childs to GPO: AdvaMed's former VP-strategic planning Blair Childs is appointed senior VP-public affairs at the Premier hospital group purchasing organization July 25. Childs will lead Premier's lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., and will act as the organization's primary spokesperson, according to the company. GPOs are under pressure from Congress, where members are considering various legislative options for strengthening oversight of the groups (1"The Gray Sheet" March 20, 2006, p. 16). The Medical Device Manufacturers Association has been particularly active in pushing for tighter GPO regulations out of concerns that the groups have conflicted financial interests that can lock smaller manufacturers out of hospital contracts...