Supply Chain

Managing supplies is a crucial part of moving medical products from the manufacturer to patient’s bedside. Efficient supply chains can reduce healthcare costs and make medical devices more affordable for patients and health systems. This news page includes content on supply shortages, inventory management, and procurement practices.

Bipartisan bills in Congress would force insurance companies, PBMs to sell pharmacies
The Patients Before Monopolies Act, introduced in both the House and Senate, gives parent companies of PBMs three years to divest from pharmacies or face penalties.
FDA recalls 233K bottles of antidepressants due to cancer risk
Bottles of duloxetine manufactured by Rising Pharmaceuticals are being recalled due to higher-than-normal levels of nitrosamine contaminants. The recall is classified as Class II, the second most serious type.
FDA issues Class I recall on insulin syringes due to risk of death
A line of syringes manufactured by Cardinal Health may fail to properly inject insulin when used with needleless IV connectors.
Anesthesiologist gets 190 years for injecting drugs into IV bags
The IV bags caused multiple patients to experience severe cardiac distress. The judge who sentenced former doctor Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz Jr. said his actions were “tantamount to attempted murder."
FDA issues Class I recall on insertion tubes after manufacturing error
Specific FHC-branded insertion tubes used in brain surgery are 20mm longer than expected and could pose a serious risk to patients.

FDA announces Class I recall for compounding inlets due to risk of death

Baxter’s disposable inlets for automated compounding systems could pose a serious risk to patients if not properly inspected before use.

September 24, 2024

FTC sues PBMs and GPOs for insulin price collusion

In a statement announcing its lawsuit, the FTC said Caremark, Optum RX and Express Scripts benefit from manufacturer rebates and ignore lower-costing drugs as a way to artificially increase prices.

September 20, 2024

FDA issues recall on infusion pump parts due to risk of uncontrollable drug flow

Due to a risk of fatal overdose, the recall is labeled as the most serious of its type. While no patients have died, two have reportedly been injured.

September 16, 2024

FDA recalls Medtronic video laryngoscopes due to risk of explosion

One person has been reportedly injured and the recall has been labelled "most serious" by the FDA.

September 5, 2024

Two years after the contrast shortage, how have supply preservation tactics fared?

During an initial three-month intervention period, one health system estimates that its saved nearly 750,000 mL of contrast. Now, experts from the organization are sharing whether those changes stuck after the shortage ended.

August 14, 2024

Baxter sells kidney care division to private equity firm for $3.8B

Carlyle Group will be the new owner of Vantive, once the sale finalizes in early 2025.

August 13, 2024

Contrast protocols based on lean body weight save supplies, reduce patient risk

Adjusting contrast dose based on a patient’s lean body weight provides the same image quality as other administration methods, new data show.

July 16, 2024

FDA recall on ventilators ranked ‘most serious’ after patient injury

Baxter is recalling its Life2000 Ventilator system due to a faulty battery charging dongle that could cause the systems to shut off during use.

July 15, 2024

Supply Chain

Bipartisan bills in Congress would force insurance companies, PBMs to sell pharmacies

FDA recalls 233K bottles of antidepressants due to cancer risk

FDA issues Class I recall on insulin syringes due to risk of death

Anesthesiologist gets 190 years for injecting drugs into IV bags

FDA issues Class I recall on insertion tubes after manufacturing error