FOR RELEASE:

The Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) saved state taxpayers $700,000 as a result of its review of a contract submitted by Stony Brook University Medical Center (SBUMC) for knee and hip medical equipment, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today.  

“The savings from this contract underscores how important it is to have an independent review of state agency procurements, including SUNY contracts,” DiNapoli said. “OSC’s audit, review and approval of state contracts protects the interests of New York’s taxpayers. On this contract alone, my office saved taxpayers $700,000. Every day, our oversight provides a vital fiscal check on the state’s procurement practices.”

DiNapoli’s contract review found that Stony Brook University Medical Center agreed to pay Stryker Medical Equipment prices it knew were substantially higher than prices the vendor offered to a neighboring hospital with much less purchasing power.

OSC called on SBUMC to question Stryker about the disparity and request a better deal. Confronted with the price disparity, the vendor agreed to prices that were on average 12 percent below what SBUMC had been prepared to pay. OSC estimates SBUMC will save $700,000 over two years. OSC approved the contract reflecting the cost savings on March 4.