October 2019

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.

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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.