December 2019

Comments of the Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA) on FDA Request for Comments on Ethylene Oxide Sterilization of Medical Devices

On behalf of the Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA), we appreciate the opportunity to provide comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the use of Ethylene Oxide (EtO) to sterilize medical devices.

HSCA represents the nation’s leading healthcare group purchasing organizations (GPOs), the sourcing and purchasing partners to virtually all of America’s 7,000+ hospitals, as well as the vast majority of the 68,000+ long-term care facilities, surgery centers, clinics, and other healthcare providers. GPOs work with healthcare providers to support a safe and reliable supply of healthcare products. We help ensure quality medical products at the best value for patients, hospitals, payers, Medicare and Medicaid, and taxpayers. The value that GPOs deliver allows healthcare providers and physicians to focus on their core mission: providing first-class patient care.

HSCA and its member GPOs have a unique line of sight over the entire healthcare supply chain – from raw materials to the manufacturing process for drugs and medical devices to their delivery to patients. Even seemingly minor disruptions to the healthcare supply chain could have significant consequences for patients. In that vein, we appreciate the Agency’s efforts to seek feedback and input on this critical matter.

Click here to read the full comments.

HSCA Submits Comments to ANSI on Healthcare Supply Chain Data Standards to Help Improve Accuracy, Efficiency, and Patient Safety

Washington, DC (November 26, 2019) – The Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA) Committee for Healthcare eStandards (CHeS) today submitted comments to the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12 supporting the Committee’s recommendation to include medical device identifiers in the healthcare electronic claim form.

The vast majority of healthcare insurance claims are communicated electronically, using electronic data interchange (EDI) standards that are promulgated and maintained by the ASC X12 Committee. The ANSI ASC X12 Committee is currently proposing a number of changes to the electronic healthcare claim form, including adding medical device identifiers to the form to enable providers and payers to exchange product information.

Click here to read the full release.

Joint Letter of Support for the MEDS Act

Dear Senator Collins and Senator Smith,

The undersigned organizations are writing in support of S.2723 – The Mitigating Emergency Drug Shortages (MEDS) Act. Drug shortages have been on the rise for several years, with an estimated 210 drugs currently at risk or not readily available for U.S. hospitals, according to the national database maintained by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also states that drug shortages have grown more persistent since 2014 with many shortages lasting multiple years.

Click here to read the full letter.

HSCA Applauds Senators Collins and Smith for Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent and Mitigate Drug Shortages

Washington, DC (October 30, 2019) – Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA) President and CEO Khatereh Calleja today released the following statement applauding Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and announcing HSCA’s support for The Mitigating Emergency Drug Shortages (MEDS) Act:

“HSCA and its member group purchasing organizations (GPOs) applaud Senators Collins and Smith for their bipartisan leadership in addressing drug shortages, reducing healthcare costs, and improving patient outcomes for Americans across the country. HSCA strongly supports the MEDS Act, which builds upon the important steps Congress has taken to provide additional authority to the FDA to help mitigate drug shortages and develop market-based incentives to ensure a stable supply of medications critical for patient care.

Click here to read the full statement.

HSCA Statement on FDA Drug Shortages Task Force Report

Washington, DC (October 29, 2019) – Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA) President and CEO Khatereh Calleja today released the following statement regarding the recent report by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Shortages Task Force on drug shortages:

“Ongoing critical prescription drug shortages jeopardize patient access to essential medications. As FDA has noted, the causes of drug shortages are complex and multifactorial, requiring an all-hands-on-deck, multi-stakeholder solution. HSCA and its member group purchasing organizations (GPOs) are on the front lines of helping providers prevent and mitigate drug shortages, working collaboratively with hospitals, physicians, manufacturers, distributors, and government agencies to ensure that providers and patients have access to the life-saving drugs they need.

Click here to read the full release.

Comments of the Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA) on Proposed Aggregate Production Quotas for Schedule I and II Controlled Substances and Assessment of Annual Needs for the List I Chemicals Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, and Phenylpropanolamine for 2020

On behalf of the Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA), we appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA or Agency) proposed aggregate production quotas for Schedule I and II controlled substances. HSCA supports DEA’s efforts to support interagency collaboration around controlling opioid diversion. We are concerned, however, that absent differentiation of injectable opioids from solid dosage form for purposes of the rule, these changes to aggregate production quotas could lead to injectable narcotic shortages that threaten patient care.

Click here for the full comments.

HSCA CEO to Lead Panel Discussion on Innovation at AdvaMed’s MedTech Conference

Comments of the Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA) on USTR Request for Comments on the Proposed Modification of Action Pursuant to Section 301

On behalf of the Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA), we appreciate the opportunity to provide comments to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on the proposed modification of action regarding Chinese exports under Section 301.

Click here for the full comments.

HSCA Applauds FDA for Releasing New Data to Enable Generic Competition

Washington, DC (June 19, 2019) – Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA) President and CEO Khatereh Calleja today released the following statement applauding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for releasing new data to help generic drug competitors:

Click here for the full statement.

New Analysis of U.S. Health Data Finds Healthcare Group Purchasing Organizations Save Healthcare System, Medicare and Medicaid, and Taxpayers Up to $34.1 Billion Annually

Analysis of CMS expenditure data finds that GPOs will reduce healthcare spending by $456.6 billion over the next ten years

Washington, DC (May 15, 2019) – The Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA), which represents the nation’s leading healthcare group purchasing organizations (GPOs), today announced a new analysis of data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) found that GPOs save the healthcare industry up to $34.1 billion annually and will reduce healthcare spending by up to $456.6 billion over the next ten years. The report, conducted by healthcare economists at Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, found that GPOs reduce supply-related purchasing costs to nursing homes and hospitals by 13.1 percent compared to providers who do not use GPO services.

Click here to read the full release.