Pessary Procurement for OB-GYN Practices: Direct-from-Manufacturer Sourcing (2026)
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If you're a practice manager or procurement lead at an OB-GYN, urogynecology, or pelvic floor PT practice, you already know the math on pessaries: your patients need them, the distributor charges $80–$120 per device, and your practice eats the cost difference or passes it to the patient. This guide explains how direct-from-manufacturer sourcing works at SciMed, what your practice saves, and how to set up a net-30 account.
Why most practices overpay for pessaries
The pessary supply chain has three to four layers between the factory and your patient:
- Manufacturer (e.g., CooperSurgical/Milex, Bioteque, SciMed) — makes the device
- Distributor (e.g., Henry Schein, McKesson, Cardinal Health) — buys wholesale, sells to clinics
- Practice / clinic — buys from distributor, dispenses to patient
- (Sometimes) Pharmacy — inserts another layer for insurance-billed dispensing
Each layer adds 20–40% margin. By the time a $20 manufactured device reaches your patient, it's been priced at $100–$180. Your practice typically pays $60–$90 wholesale and bills the patient or insurance the higher rate.
Direct from manufacturer cuts out the distributor. SciMed is both the manufacturer and the seller — there's no intermediate margin to pay. Your practice pays our manufacturer-direct price and keeps the savings (or passes them to patients).
Cost savings for a typical OB-GYN practice
The math, for a practice fitting 50 pessaries per year:
| Cost item | Through distributor | Direct from SciMed | Annual savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 individual ring pessaries (with/without support mix) | $4,000 ($80 avg) | $2,375 ($47.50 avg) | $1,625 |
| One 7-size Clinical Fitting Kit (replaced every 2 years) | ~$300/yr amortized (Milex kit ~$600) | $130/yr amortized ($260 kit) | $170 |
| Shipping (free at SciMed; ~$15/order at most distributors, 12 orders/yr) | $180 | $0 | $180 |
| Total annual savings | ~$1,975 |
For practices fitting 100+ pessaries/year, savings exceed $4,000 annually. Volume pricing tiers reduce per-unit cost further at higher commitment levels (see below).
The 7-size Clinical Fitting Kit
Our Clinical Fitting Kit contains 7 ring pessaries covering sizes 1 through 7 (51 mm to 89 mm) — the range that covers approximately 95% of patients in clinical practice. Available in:
- With Support membrane (all 7)
- Without Support / open ring (all 7)
- Mixed (4 with support + 3 without, or whatever combination your practice prefers)
Kit price: From $259.99. Comparable Milex/Bioteque fitting sets retail $500–$700.
All devices in the kit are autoclavable for sterile re-use between patient fittings, per the included IFU.
Volume pricing for clinic accounts
| Annual commitment (units) | Per-pessary price | Discount vs single-unit |
|---|---|---|
| 25–49 units/year | $44.99 / $49.99 (list) | List |
| 50–149 units/year | ~$42 / $47 | ~5% |
| 150–499 units/year | ~$39 / $44 | ~12% |
| 500+ units/year | Custom quote | 15–20%+ |
Volume pricing kicks in by annual commitment, not per-order. Practices commit to estimated annual volume; we true up quarterly. Contact clinic@scimedstore.com for a quote at your expected volume.
Net-30 payment terms
SciMed offers net-30 terms for verified clinic accounts. To qualify:
- Active NPI number for the practice or providing physician
- Practice federal tax ID (EIN)
- Credit reference from one existing medical-device supplier (e.g., your current distributor)
- Minimum first order $200 (typically one Clinical Fitting Kit or a quantity of singles)
Credit application takes 2–3 business days to verify. Once approved, you place orders by email, phone, or web; we ship the same business day and invoice on a net-30 schedule.
Compliance documentation included with every order
Each shipment to a clinical account includes:
- Packing slip with FDA 510(k) clearance number and HCPCS code A4561
- Individual device pouches with lot number, manufacture date, and expiry date
- IFU (Instructions for Use) for each device
- Certificate of Conformance available on request (for accreditation audits)
- USP Class VI silicone material certification on request
SciMed manufactures under FDA Quality Management System Regulation (21 CFR Part 820) at our San Jose facility. We're a registered medical device establishment in the United States. All documentation needed for The Joint Commission, AAAHC, or state DOH inspections is available on request.
Regulatory status (the same as Milex / Bioteque)
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| FDA classification | Class II Medical Device, 510(k) Cleared |
| FDA Product Code | HHN — Pessary, vaginal |
| 21 CFR section | 884.5350 |
| HCPCS reimbursement code | A4561 (rubber pessary) / A4562 (non-rubber) |
| ICD-10 indications | N81.0–N81.9 (genital prolapse) |
| Material | Medical-grade silicone, USP Class VI |
| Latex / BPA | None (latex-free, BPA-free) |
| Country of origin | United States (San Jose, CA) |
| OB-GYN approved | Yes — first-line therapy per ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 214 (2019) |
How to set up your practice account
- Email clinic@scimedstore.com with practice name, NPI, estimated annual volume, and the contact person for ordering
- We'll send a 1-page credit application (electronic)
- Credit verification (2–3 business days)
- Once approved, you receive a clinic account login and direct phone line for orders
- First order ships same business day; net-30 invoicing begins
If you'd like to evaluate the product first — we offer complimentary single-unit samples to verified practice accounts. Tell us the size your practice fits most often (size 4 with support is the most-prescribed) and we'll ship one to your office at no cost.
Email clinic@scimedstore.com · (669) 265-9353
FAQ for practice managers
Are SciMed pessaries the same regulatory standard as Milex?
Yes. Both are FDA 510(k) cleared Class II medical devices under FDA Product Code HHN, regulated under 21 CFR 884.5350. Material specifications (USP Class VI medical-grade silicone) are standardized across manufacturers. The regulatory standard is identical; the difference is supply chain and price.
Can we bill insurance for SciMed pessaries?
Yes. SciMed pessaries are billable under HCPCS code A4561 (rubber pessary) for insurance and Medicare DME reimbursement. The 510(k) clearance number is included on every packing slip and is available for prior authorization documentation.
What's the minimum order for a clinic account?
$200 minimum first order. Most practices start with a Clinical Fitting Kit ($259.99) plus a few singles. After the first order, no minimum on subsequent orders.
How fast do clinic orders ship?
Same business day if ordered before 2 PM PT, Monday–Friday. Standard delivery is 2–5 business days via USPS or UPS Ground. Expedited UPS available on request. All orders ship free within the continental US.
Do you offer net-30 or net-60 terms?
Net-30 is the standard term after credit verification. Net-60 is available for practices with 12+ months of clean payment history on net-30. We're flexible — if your practice has a specific accounts-payable cycle, let us know and we'll work with it.
What if a clinical fitting kit pessary is damaged in use?
Fitting-kit pessaries are designed for clinical re-use (autoclave between patients per the included IFU). If a kit device is damaged or shows wear before the expected service life, contact your account rep — we replace the individual device at no cost during the first 12 months.
Do you provide CE Marking or international compliance documents?
SciMed pessaries are FDA 510(k) cleared for US distribution. For international clinic accounts, we provide all US regulatory documentation, USP Class VI material certificates, and US Certificate of Conformance. International regulatory acceptance varies by country; some international clinics use our products with local clinical-equivalence determinations.
Can we drop-ship to patients on behalf of our practice?
Yes. Many practices use SciMed as a fulfillment partner: you bill your patient for the device, place the order with us using the patient's shipping address, and we ship direct in plain unmarked packaging. The practice retains the patient relationship; we handle fulfillment.