Frequently Asked Questions
All Cardinal Health™ Brand products that carry the Cardinal Health name or are trademarked are eligible, including the following:
- Anesthesia products
- Fluid Management
- Infection Control products
- Innovative Therapies
- Laboratory products
- Mobility and bathroom accessory products
- Orthopedic Solutions
- Patient Care products
- Presource® Products and Services
- Surgical and Exam Gloves
- Surgical Drapes and Gowns
- Skin and Wound Management, including Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
- Women and Baby products
* Not included: Cordis products, National Brands, equipment as set forth on leases
OptiFreight Logistics® is currently the only service eligible for Essential Rewards, and freight billings contribute towards a customer’s Cardinal Health™ Brand spend total, and thus, towards their rebate. OptiFreight® Logistics as part of Essential Rewards offers double savings benefits – first by lowering shipping costs, and then by contributing to earning a larger rebate.
Rebate periods run from January 1 - June 30 and July 1 - December 31 every year and rebates will be paid within 60 days of the rebate period ending - and normally closer to 30 days.
Rebates are paid in the form of credit memos that can be applied to current or future Cardinal Health invoices.
Please contact your Cardinal Health sales representative to begin the process of signing up for Essential Rewards. Your representative will determine eligibility with you based on program parameters, and if appropriate, will assist you in filling out an electronic Letter of Participation (LOP) that will complete your enrollment in the program.
Purchases will start contributing towards your rebate the 1st day of the month following full execution of the agreement. Example: An LOP signed July 15 will start earning towards rebates on August 1.
How is the Base Spend Rebate calculated?
There are two basic requirements that each customer must meet in order to qualify for a Base Spend Rebate, but once these requirements are met you’ll earn a rebate back on all of the eligible Cardinal Health™ Brand products and services purchased during a rebate period. Those requirements are:
- Cardinal Health™ Brand Rebate Period* Spend of at least $10,000
- Cardinal Health™ Brand Mix Percentage above 25%
The Base Spend rebate is calculated by applying the appropriate Gold or Platinum rebate tier percentage to ALL Cardinal Health Brand product purchases and OptiFreight® Logistics billings, provided the customer meets minimum spend and mix percentage requirements.
Here is an example:
- Cardinal Health Brand Mix Percentage is determined as a ratio of your Cardinal Health® eligible products and services spend over your total spend with Cardinal Health during a rebate period
- The Cardinal Health Brand Mix Percentage is what determines your membership level (Gold or Platinum) and your subsequent Base Spend Rebate percentage for that period
- If your product mix is between 25-34%, then you are a Gold Member who earns a 1% rebate on Cardinal Health® Brand purchases
- If your product mix is 35% or above, then you are a Platinum Member who earns a 2% rebate on Cardinal Health® Brand purchases
How is the Growth Rebate calculated?
There are three basic requirements that each customer must meet in order to qualify for the Growth Rebate:
- Cardinal Health Brand Rebate Period Spend of at least $10,000
- Cardinal Health Brand Mix Percentage above 25%
- Incremental increase in spend of current rebate period versus the previous calendar year's matching rebate period
This means that if you spend more this January - June than you did last January - June, you earn a percentage of that incremental increase in year over year spend back in the form of a rebate.
Here is an example:
- The Product Mix Percentage determines your membership level (Gold or Platinum) and your subsequent Growth Rebate percentage for that period.
- If you are a Gold member, then you will earn a 2% rebate on your incremental growth
- If you are a Platinum Member, then you will earn a 5% rebate on your incremental growth
