Members who are compliant with benchmark requirements for both Menactra and Adacel receive an additional 1% year-end bonus on Adacel purchases.  Practices successfully participating in both the Sanofi Pasteur and Merck contracts are eligible for additional bonuses on Merck vaccines under the Main Street Rewards Program.

If you switch to Main Street from another purchasing group contract Sanofi Pasteur requires submission of a Contract Change Form  (CCF) which is available following the Sanofi price list under Contracts. 

The Merck contract requires preferential use of RECOMBIVAX, VAQTA, RotaTeq, Gardasil, ZOSTAVAX and PNEUMOVAX 23. Contract vaccine prices are discounted off current catalogue rates. On invoice discounts are given on ProQuad, MMR-II, VARIVAX, PNEUMOVAX 23, RotaTeq, ZOSTAVAX, and Gardasil.

Members participating in both the Merck and Sanofi Pasteur contracts are eligible for an additional Main Street Rewards Bonus of 1% on RotaTeq, MMR-II, Gardasil, and 2% on VAQTA for the July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012 contract year. (Click here and sign in to review the Merck Agreement.)

For the July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012 contract year the program offers a bonus equal to 1% of RotaTeq, MMR-II, Gardasil, and 2% on VAQTA purchases (less FET.)   To qualify for this bonus you have to participate in both the Sanofi Pasteur and Merck Agreements and be a Main Street Member in good standing.  If you only participate in  one contract or are not fully compliant with contract terms you are not eligible for the bonus.

For the July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012 contract year the program offers a 1% bonus on Adacel purchases for members who meet or exceed contract benchmarks for both Menactra and Adacel.

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Q: How do I join?

A: You cannot enroll in either contract unless you have an account with the vaccine manufacturer.  Please contact your Sanofi Pasteur or Merck rep if you need assistance setting up a business account.

Enrollment in either Main Street contract can be directly through us. Enrollment forms and prices are available under CONTRACTS.   You will have to sign up (lower left corner of the box) and log in to access this and other password protected  information.  (There is no charge for signing up and it does not obligate you to anything.) 

Q: Is there a membership fee?

A:  No.  There never has been one and there never will be one!  This program is supposed to lower your costs, not increase them.

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Q: How long does it take to become a member?

 A:  We can usually have you on either vaccine contract within four business days of the time we receive your application.  You are automatically enrolled in the discount med/surg supply program when you become a member of the Sanofi Pasteur Contract. Grand Solutions enrolls you when you contact them either through this site or (888) HUB-MAIN (888 482-6246).

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Q: How long do I have to stay with the contract?

 A:  We think there is a lot of value in our programs.  Over 90% of all the doctors that ever joined are still with us. We hope you will want to continue with us indefinitely, but you can stop any time you want to.  Just notify us in writing and we will remove you from the contract(s).  However, you will lose any accrued benefits if you withdraw.

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Q:  What happens if get a “deal” somewhere or purchase competing products?

 A:  The only restrictive agreements we have are on vaccines.  We know that many manufacturers want your vaccine business, and that it is always possible to get a "deal" of some kind. We are, however, interdependent.  .  If  you purchase competing products you violate our contracts and jeopardize the benefits and savings for all of us.  Compliance is monitored for the protection of the group.  Practices that use off-contract vaccines risk the loss of all accrued cash rebates and rewards, and may be removed from participation without prior notice.  Anyway, experience has taught us that our contracts invariably beat the “deals” over time, and no competitor can deliver the entire line of vaccines we need.

Our med/surg/office supply program from VaxServe is non-restrictive.  You can order supplies from us and from anyone else you wish to. (But we think our prices are extremely competitive and the convenience is hard to beat.)

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Q:  Can you really tell if I am buying vaccines outside the contract?

 A:  Yes, we can.  When that happens you may receive a warning or a notice terminating your membership with the loss of all accrued benefits. Every now and then, competing vaccine manufacturers “advise” members that we can’t track which vaccines you are using, that the benchmark requirements in our contracts give you “wiggle room” to use their products, or that we never remove anyone for contract violations.  They are wrong, wrong, and wrong.  We routinely track vaccine use and detect off contract purchases. Our benchmark percentages are set below 100 to allow for year to year variation in practice circumstances and vaccine use not to encourage “cherry picking;” and we will remove anyone from either contract to safeguard benefits for the majority of practices that adhere to contract terms.     

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Q:  Can I be in more than one group buying contract at the same time?

 A:  No, at least not for vaccines; that violates rules we didn’t make.  You can sign up with our vaccine contracts or with someone else’s, but not both.  If you are changing from another contract Sanofi Pasteur requires submission of a Contract Change Form. 

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Q:  What about COMVAX/PedvaxHib/ActHib?  Isn’t that a conflict?

 A:  Yes it is.  The Sanofi contract is benchmarked and rebated for Hib antigen, the Merck contract is not.  If you use a significant amount of COMVAX or PedvaxHib you could jeopardize your status on the Sanofi contract.   

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Q:   Do we get preferential treatment if vaccines are scarce?

 A:  Not directly, but we usually hear about it early and can get contract adjustments or compensations.    

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Q:  Can I use a credit card to pay for orders?

 A:  Absolutely. Both vaccine contracts will let you automatically bill to a credit card at the end of the prompt payment interval, which effectively gives you an extra 30 days net terms.  Many of our practices do this and generate enormous rewards accounts or cash rebates.

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Q:  Is there a specific order size or ratio?

 A:  No. We have found plans with those almost too complicated to succeed.  Except for some special promotions there are no order size or ratio requirements.
You do not have to tie up your refrigerator and capital with vaccines.  There are service charges on orders under $600.00, but an analysis of our practices indicates this affects almost no one.  

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Q:  Do I have to change the way I  order under your agreements?

 A:  No. Our programs are intended to simplify your life, not complicate it.  There are no ratios, no restrictions. Ordering and shipment of vaccines is not altered in any way by participation in our contracts. You place your order just as you always have.  Remember, Sanofi Pasteur requires a Contract Change Form if you are switching from another buying group.

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Q:  What happens if Sanofi Pasteur or Merck runs a special sale?

 A:  That happens all the time. You remain eligible for any promotional discounts or terms that either company may offer on either vaccines or general supplies.  Our contract prices represent your minimal savings exclusive of any other temporary programs.

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Q:  What happens if Merck or Sanofi can’t deliver on contracted vaccines?

 A:  In a “failure to supply” situation we usually can arrange a temporary release from the contract terms and/or a compensatory price adjustment on current products.  We are still trying to figure out what to do when no one has a vaccine due to a national emergency (influenza 2009).

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Q:  My State provides basic childhood vaccines so I don’t use all of the vaccines that you mention in your contracts; can I still participate and get discounts?

 A:  Absolutely.  This question usually references the newer adolescent and adult vaccines that some States cannot afford to provide.  Our prices and rebates are based on the products you purchase so this would only be an issue if, for example, you used our contracts to get great rates on Menactra or Gardasil but used competing vaccines for the rest of your immunization schedule.

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Q:  I get a lot of my vaccines for Medicaid or indigent patients through a State plan.  Do I have to use Merck and Sanofi vaccines?

 A:  Not absolutely.  But why wouldn’t you? Merck and Sanofi products are available through all VFC plans.  Aren’t immunization protocols complicated enough? Why would you want to keep two or more sets of schedules in your charts?

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Q:  I see mostly adults, (or women, or subspecialty patients), so I don’t use childhood vaccines.  Can I order just the products I need and still get the benefits of your contracts?

 A:  Certainly.  As long as you are not ordering childhood or adolescent/adult vaccines from another source we can usually waive our requirements.

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Q:  I am happy with my local med/surg supplier.  Why should I change?  

 A:  You may not want to; but why not try it?  You have nothing to lose.

We think we have negotiated extremely competitive prices for the hundreds of items that keep our offices running smoothly.  In most practices the cost of these is nowhere near what we spend on vaccines, but it is still substantial. There are also periodic specials on big and small items that are spectacular. Ordering vaccines and supplies at the same site (www.VaccineShoppe.com ) and at the same time makes sense.  It is easy and it saves money. It also makes it very likely that your bill will exceed $600.00 and you will never have to pay a service fee for Sanofi Pasteur products.  Shipment and terms are the same as for Sanofi Pasteur vaccines.  Click Med/Surg Supplies for specific information.

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Q:  I have gotten different prices on vaccines at different times. How is that possible on your contracts?

 A:  It’s not easy, but it can be done.  Except for a prompt payment discount the Merck Contact is pretty hard to vary.  You get invoice discounts from Merck and you get a bonus from Main Street.  Other than special promotions that’s it.

The Sanofi Contract has a few more variables.  It gives you invoice discounts and a rebate.  There are discounts for prompt payment and online ordering. There are also special promotions.  VaxMax can save you up to 6% on a given invoice for ordering multiple types, (not increased amounts), of vaccines. There is also an across the board pediatric vaccine discount if you accept greater than 95% of your ordered Fluzone.  Most variation is due to VaxMax or the Fluzone/pediatric vaccine discount.