Premier announced that the White House Administration’s COVID-19 supply chain task force requested a briefing with the organization this week to learn more about the current state of health system preparedness and potential actions that could be taken to ensure a more reliable supply chain.
During the call, Premier presented unique insights and data on the supplies that are currently on allocation and in shortage, and key recommendations to protect the integrity of our acute, non-acute and pharmaceutical supply chain.
Several actions recommended by Premier’s team have since been enacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this week, and further ideas were implemented through the March 11 Executive Order to increase domestic manufacturing to protect the public, according to a release.
Some of the key insights included:
An assessment of our current state for the acute supply chain. “Based on our experience, survey results, and data, the supply chain for PPE is unquestionably strained,” Premier stated. “This is due to pressures from pre-existing issues (EtO, Cardinal gown recall) and now COVID-19.” There are 700+ unique PPE products on national allocation across 8 product categories. Hospitals are reporting only receiving 44% of their allocation for N95 masks. Items of greatest imminent risk include all masks (N95, surgical, isolation), gowns (surgical & isolation) and PAPRs. An inability to obtain product via normal distribution channels creates significant risk for counterfeit products and the gray market.
An assessment of where this may lead for the acute supply chain. “There are other major risk points in the supply chain that must be monitored,” Premier said. “There is a next tier of products that could be impacted including: cleaning agents and detergents: sanitizers; air filters; physician preference products (orthopedics, cardiovascular, GI, etc.); IV tubing; pacemakers.”
To be successful moving forward, Premier said “we must create a stronger public-private partnership to triage requests, identify available supply, and create a feedback mechanism to understand when product has been deployed to fulfill requests.” This can be accomplished by:
- Continuing to collect and report relevant data to the task force.
- Convening the GPO and distributor industries to gather similar data and insights across the entire acute and non-acute segments.
- Supporting the SNS to triage supply requests and distribute product.
- Support the passage of legislation to create reporting transparency to FDA regarding supply disruptions
For the full release, visit: https://www.premierinc.com/newsroom/blog/premier-provides-supply-chain-recommendations-to-administrations-covid-19-supply-chain-task-force