/ en Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:44:30 -0500 Wed, 09 Apr 25 15:36:35 -0500 /news/videos/2018-01-05-jim-hinton-ceo-baylor-scott-white-health-concerted-approach-affordability <div class="hs-responsive-embed-youtube"></div> <div class="hs-responsive-embed-youtube"> </div> Fri, 05 Jan 2018 05:49:58 -0600 Supply chain management /news/headline/2025-04-09-trump-announces-reciprocal-tariffs-paused-90-days <p>President Trump April 9 <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114309144289505174" target="_blank">announced</a> that reciprocal tariffs that went into effect after midnight for certain nations will be paused for 90 days, while tariffs for China would be increased to 125%. A 10% universal tariff on imported goods from all countries that began April 5 remains in effect.</p> Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:36:35 -0500 Supply chain management <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>The White House April 2 issued an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and-persistent-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/" target="_blank" title="April 2nd Executive Order">executive order</a> implementing a comprehensive new tariff plan. The plan imposes a 10% universal tariff on imported goods from all countries beginning April 5, and reciprocal tariffs on certain countries with which the U.S. has high trade deficits beginning April 9. Additional information can be found in the White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-declares-national-emergency-to-increase-our-competitive-edge-protect-our-sovereignty-and-strengthen-our-national-and-economic-security/" target="_blank" title="White House Taffif Fact sheet">fact sheet</a>.</p><p>With a stated purpose of addressing “large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits” driven by “the absence of reciprocity in [U.S.] trade relationships,” the executive order declares a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. The tariff plan includes three key components:</p><ul><li><strong>Universal tariff.</strong> Beginning April 5, the administration will impose a 10% universal tariff on the value of goods imported from all countries.  </li><li><strong>Country-specific universal tariffs. </strong>Starting April 9, the administration will levy reciprocal tariffs on countries with which the U.S. has significant trade deficits. <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Annex-I.pdf" target="_blank" title="List of country specific reciprocal tariff rtates">Annex I</a> of the executive order includes the list of country-specific reciprocal tariff rates; the rates in the table reflect the inclusion of the 10% universal tariff.</li><li><strong>Modification authority.</strong><em> </em>The executive order enables the administration to increase reciprocal tariff rates on those countries that implement retaliatory measures. The administration could also decrease the rates for countries that “take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trading arrangements and align with the United States on economic and national security matters.”</li></ul><p>The tariffs will remain in effect until the president “determines that the threat posed by the trade deficit and underlying nonreciprocal treatment is satisfied, resolved, or mitigated.”</p><p>The executive order <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Annex-II.pdf" target="_blank" title="Goods exempt from reciproca tariffs">exempts</a> some goods from reciprocal tariffs, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, copper, steel/aluminum articles, and energy and certain other minerals that are not available in the United States, but does not exempt them from the universal 10% tariff. In addition, the administration’s previously announced tariff <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-mexico-and-china/" target="_blank" title="tariff plans for Canada and Mexico">plans</a> for Canada and Mexico are not affected by this executive order.</p><p>In a <a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/02/AHA-Urges-Administration-to-Grant-Exceptions-for-Tariffs-for-Medications-and-Medical-Supplies.pdf" target="_blank" title="AHA letter to the Administration Feb. 4">letter to the administration</a> Feb. 4, the AHA expressed concern that the administration’s use of tariffs may “inadvertently put others’ lives at risk by jeopardizing the availability of vital medications and essential health care devices.” The AHA went on to request exceptions for medical devices, pharmaceuticals and products already in short supply.</p><p>The AHA continues to review the details of the tariff plan to assess its impacts on our members and will work with the administration on ensuring the availability of the drugs, devices and supplies that hospitals and health systems need to serve their communities.</p><h2>AHA Take</h2><p>AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said in a statement, “In America’s hospitals and health systems, the dedication and skill of our care teams come together each day with a vast array of medicines, devices and other supplies to deliver the best care possible. The lives of our patients often depend on the ready availability of things ranging from blood pressure cuffs and surgical instruments to life-saving cancer drugs and antibiotics. The well-being and safety of our caregivers also depend on protective equipment like masks, gloves and respirators.</p><p>“Last night, the administration released an executive order implementing a comprehensive new tariff plan. We share the Trump administration’s goal of strengthening domestic supply chains for these essential medical products. At the same time, patient care often depends on the availability of internationally sourced devices and treatments. We appreciate that the administration has exempted pharmaceuticals from reciprocal tariffs. However, we strongly urge the administration to consider tariff exemptions for medical devices. It is especially critical to have exceptions for medical products already in shortage and for which production in countries subject to the increased tariffs supplies a significant part of the U.S. market.</p><p>“The AHA continues to review the details of the tariff plan to assess its impacts on hospitals and health systems. We stand ready to work with the administration and all stakeholders on ensuring the availability of the drugs, devices and supplies that hospitals and health systems need to serve their communities.”</p><h2>Additional Information on Executive Actions</h2><p>As the Trump administration continues to issue executive orders and administrative actions on many issues, the AHA is compiling them in its <a href="http://www.aha.org/eotracker" target="_blank" title="AHA tracker of executive actions.">tracker</a> of actions for hospitals and health systems. The tracker will be updated regularly as new actions are released.</p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>If you have further questions, please contact the AHA at 800-424-4301.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/trump-administration-unveils-new-tariff-plan-advisory-4-3-2025.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/cover-image-trump-administration-unveils-new-tariff-plan-advisory-4-3-2025.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Member Advisory: Trump Administration Unveils New Tariff Plan PDF" width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div> Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:58:36 -0500 Supply chain management /news/headline/2025-03-18-fda-says-hemodialysis-tube-shortage-expected-last-until-fall <p>The Food and Drug Administration March 14 released a <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/disruptions-availability-hemodialysis-bloodlines-letter-health-care-providers" target="_blank">notice</a> on a nationwide shortage of hemodialysis tubes expected to last through early fall. On Jan. 8, B. Braun sent a <a href="https://www.medline.com/media/assets/pdf/vendor-list/25-0007_Supply_Disrupt_Streamline_Bloodlines_Ltr_FINAL_010825.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a> to customers detailing an interruption to the production and supply of certain hemodialysis tubes.  <br> <br>The FDA recommended providers experiencing interruptions or shortages to “use their clinical judgment when developing and implementing conservation strategies.” The FDA said providers should continue providing dialysis treatments to patients, monitor current and future tube supplies, and develop plans and strategies to conserve tube supply, among other recommendations. </p> Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:53:26 -0500 Supply chain management /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-02-25-rfid-solutions-attract-attention-medication-inventory-management <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/RFID-Solutions-Attract-Attention-for-Medication-Inventory-Management.png" data-entity-uuid="fcef64bf-69db-4b66-b257-90a786729d38" data-entity-type="file" alt="RFID Solutions Attract Attention for Medication Inventory Management. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system tag surround by drug capsules." width="100%" height="100%"><p>Using radio frequency identification (RFID) systems to track hospital and health system assets, including equipment and staff, have long been in use. But it appears that more organizations are giving RFID a second look to aid in medication management accuracy, safety and efficiency.</p><p>Recent reports note that UF Health Shands, a private, not-for-profit hospital in Gainesville, Florida, has been using an <a href="https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/rfid-brings-inpatient-medication-management-home-settings" target="_blank" title="HIMSS: RFID brings inpatient medication management to home settings">RFID solution</a> for three years to help the pharmacy team manage crash cart trays. Meanwhile, Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston has been using <a href="https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/novel-rfid-solution-elevates-drug-inventory-management" target="_blank" title="HIMSS: A novel RFID solution elevates drug inventory management">RFID solutions for drug kits, trays and airway boxes</a> for several years to streamline the refilling process.</p><p>RFID systems augment and improve a historically barcode-driven workflow by utilizing the technology’s power to read large numbers of drugs during a single scan — in real time, wirelessly. This can make it is easier and faster to determine what drugs may need to be restocked or removed due to expiration. RFID also can eliminate manual entry of lot numbers and expiration dates while accelerating the recall process, which saves many hours of often tedious work, advocates say.</p><p>Still, making the conversion to RFID tracking of medications has its own set of labor-intensive considerations.</p><h2>Evaluate Tagging Considerations</h2><p>To use RFID-enabled medication systems, each medication needs to be RFID tagged, notes a <a href="https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/the-promise-of-rfid-for-improving-medication-inventory-management" target="_blank" title="Pharmaceutical Commerce: The Promise of RFID for Improving Medication Inventory Management">Pharmaceutical Commerce report</a>. This typically requires pharmacy personnel to place a vendor-provided RFID tag onto individual products, associate the drug information to the tag and then double-check the tags to ensure accuracy.</p><p>Tag placement also can be important since the tags must be affixed in the right location to avoid obscuring the medication label. Many hospitals have job aids to direct pharmacy personnel where and how to affix tags, especially on difficult-to-read products.</p><p>While it may be a lot of work, for many facilities the benefits in terms of accuracy and efficiency outweigh this tedious task. For others, however, the labor required to tag the number of products required may dissuade them from adopting RFID.</p><p>UF Health Shands opted in favor of an RFID solution to support its emergency department, pharmacy and hospital-at-home program that launched in 2024. Rubaiyat Zinat, pharmacist coordinator for adult medicine pharmacy services at UF Health Shands, is hopeful that RFID’s use will expand to hospital operating rooms and anesthesia workstations. The ability to use drugs pre-tagged by pharmaceutical manufacturers would further simplify medication management workflows, saving her team time and frustration, she told Healthcare IT News.</p><p>After determining that its health system regularly uses 784 high-value and specialty drugs that cost $100 or more per unit, Texas Children’s worked on developing a new type of RFID system to track these items.</p><p>It focused on more efficiently tagging each medication, taking an onerous 12-step process that was fraught with the potential for human error to a simpler two-step workflow. In the new workflow, a pharmacy tech scans the high-value drug to generate a label with all pertinent information that is applied to a box. That box is associated only with that unique medication. The box then moves to a conditioning station where the technician scans the already validated drug label and applies an RFID tag to each unit within the box.</p><p>This process has eliminated the need for manual data entry, with each drug associated with a specific RFID location, such as a cabinet or refrigerator. This validates that the drug is the right product, that it’s going to the right location and that the RFID tag is working before it gets there.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0600 Supply chain management /news/headline/2025-02-05-aha-urges-administration-grant-exceptions-current-and-proposed-tariffs-medications-and-medical <p>The AHA late Feb. 4 told the administration that its current and proposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China may jeopardize the availability of vital medications and essential health care devices. </p><p>“We ask that you consider granting exceptions to the current and proposed tariffs for medical devices and pharmaceuticals made in Mexico, Canada and China that are essential to the provision of safe, effective care in America's hospitals, clinics, and other settings,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack <a href="/lettercomment/2025-02-05-aha-urges-administration-grant-exceptions-tariffs-medications-and-medical-supplies" target="_blank">wrote in a letter</a> to President Trump. “It is especially critical to have these exceptions for products already in shortage and for which production in the countries subject to increased tariffs supply a significant part of the U.S. market.”  </p><p>Since the announcement of the potential tariffs, conversations with the leaders of Canada and Mexico led to a delay in the imposition of tariffs on products made in those countries, but AHA said, “we believe the principle still prevails.”  </p><p>Specifically, AHA expressed concern about dangers for patients associated with the disruption in the supply of cardiac drugs, oncology drugs and others made in China, as well as the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients — the U.S. gets nearly 30% of its APIs from China — “meaning that these tariffs may also limit the availability of U.S. drug manufacturers to produce critical drugs here in the U.S.” </p><p>The AHA also expressed concern about the potential impact of tariffs on medical devices designed to protect patients from infection, such as single-use blood pressure cuffs, stethoscope covers and sterile drapes, as well as supplies that health care workers need to care for patients, including gowns, gloves, face masks, respirators and other equipment, “much of which is manufactured in China and cannot be easily replaced by domestic manufacturers.” </p><p>The AHA will continue to monitor this issue and provide additional updates as needed.</p> Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:36:38 -0600 Supply chain management <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>The AHA late yesterday told the administration that its current and proposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China may jeopardize the availability of vital medications and essential health care devices.</p><p>“We ask that you consider granting exceptions to the current and proposed tariffs for medical devices and pharmaceuticals made in Mexico, Canada and China that are essential to the provision of safe, effective care in America's hospitals, clinics, and other settings,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack wrote in a <a href="/lettercomment/2025-02-05-aha-urges-administration-grant-exceptions-tariffs-medications-and-medical-supplies" target="_blank">letter</a> to President Trump. “It is especially critical to have these exceptions for products already in shortage and for which production in the countries subject to increased tariffs supply a significant part of the U.S. market.”</p><p>Since the announcement of the potential tariffs, conversations with the leaders of Canada and Mexico led to a delay in the imposition of tariffs on products made in those countries, but AHA said, “We believe the principle still prevails.”</p><p>Specifically, AHA expressed concern about dangers for patients associated with the disruption in the supply of cardiac drugs, oncology drugs and others made in China, as well as the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients — the U.S. gets nearly 30% of its APIs from China — “meaning that these tariffs may also limit the availability of U.S. drug manufacturers to produce critical drugs here in the U.S.”</p><p>The AHA also expressed concern about the potential impact of tariffs on medical devices designed to protect patients from infection, such as single-use blood pressure cuffs, stethoscope covers and sterile drapes, as well as supplies that health care workers need to care for patients, including gowns, gloves, face masks, respirators and other equipment, “much of which is manufactured in China and cannot be easily replaced by domestic manufacturers.”</p><p>The AHA Feb. 3 issued a <a href="/advisory/2025-02-03-tariffs-canada-china-and-mexico" target="_blank" title="Member Advisory PDF">Member Advisory</a> with additional information about the tariffs. The AHA will continue to monitor this issue and provide additional updates as needed.</p><h2>ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EXECUTIVE ACTIONS</h2><p>The Trump administration continues to issue executive orders and administrative actions that reinforce the administration’s priorities. The AHA has compiled a <a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/01/2025-New-Executive-Orders-20250127.pdf" target="_blank" title="AHA tracker ">tracker</a> of the actions the administration has taken that may be of interest to hospitals and health systems. The tracker will be updated regularly as new actions are released.</p><h2>FURTHER QUESTIONS</h2><p>If you have further questions, please contact Nancy Foster, AHA vice president of quality and patient safety policy, at <a href="mailto:nfoster@aha.org">nfoster@aha.org</a>. </p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/02/aha-urges-administration-to-grant-exceptions-for-current-and-proposed-tariffs-for-medications-and-medical-supplies-advisory-2-5-2025.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/cover-aha-urges-administration-to-grant-exceptions-for-current-and-proposed-tariffs-for-medications-and-medical-supplies-advisory-2-5-2025.png" data-entity-uuid="29876587-0bcc-48ec-8b34-dcc8529a1acd" data-entity-type="file" alt="Cover of the Member Advisory" width="640" height="834"></a></div></div></div> Wed, 05 Feb 2025 09:22:30 -0600 Supply chain management /lettercomment/2025-02-05-aha-urges-administration-grant-exceptions-tariffs-medications-and-medical-supplies <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>February 4, 2025</p><p>The Honorable Donald J. Trump<br>President of the United States of America<br>White House<br>1600 Pennsylvania Avenue<br>Washington, D.C. 20500</p><p>Dear President Trump:</p><p>America's hospitals stand with you in seeking ways to prevent the ravages of illicit drug use in this country. Every day, the doctors, nurses and other caregivers in our hospitals and health systems treat those suffering from addiction. They work tirelessly to prevent deaths from overdoses of fentanyl and other addictive drugs. We commend your focus on this issue in the first few days of your second term. We are, however, concerned that the approach of using tariffs may inadvertently put others' lives at risk by jeopardizing the availability of vital medications and essential health care devices.</p><p>We ask that you consider granting exceptions to the current and proposed tariffs for medical devices and pharmaceuticals made in Mexico, Canada and China that are essential to the provision of safe, effective care in America's hospitals, clinics, and other settings. It is especially critical to have these exceptions for products already in shortage and for which production in the countries subject to increased tariffs supply a significant part of the U.S. market. We are aware, since the announcement of the potential tariffs, conversations with the leaders of Canada and Mexico led to a delay in the imposition of tariffs on products made in those countries, but we believe the principle still prevails.</p><p>Despite ongoing efforts to build the domestic supply chain, the U.S. health care system relies significantly on international sources for many drugs and devices needed to both care for patients and protect our health care workers. Tariffs, as well as any reaction of the countries on whom such tariffs are imposed, could reduce the availability of these life-saving medications and supplies in the U.S. For example, U.S. providers import many cancer and cardiovascular medications, immunosuppressives, antibiotics and combination antibiotics from China. For many patients, even a temporary disruption in their access to these needed medications could put them at significant risk of harm, including death. Carefully planned chemotherapy treatments and antibiotic schedules are essential to giving patients the best chance of overcoming their disease. Similarly, the provision of necessary cardiovascular medications must be continuous to preserve their cardiovascular health.</p><p>Beyond the use of these finished products, many raw ingredients for pharmaceuticals come from China. These are commonly known as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APls). These chemicals are the most important components of any pharmaceutical manufacturer's supply chain. The U.S. gets nearly 30% of its APls from China, meaning that these tariffs may also limit the availability of U.S. drug manufacturers to produce critical drugs here in the U.S.<a href="#fn1"><sup>1</sup></a></p><p>China is also the source of many medical devices. Some of these devices are single­ use devices designed to protect the patient from infection, such as single-use blood pressure cuffs, stethoscope covers and sterile drapes. Others are small devices used ubiquitously in hospitals, such as anesthesia instruments, cautery pencils, needles and syringes, pulse oximeters and blood pressure cuffs. Disruption in the availability of these instruments would curtail hospitals' ability to perform life-saving surgeries and keep patients safe from contagion and greatly reduce our ability to effectively diagnose and monitor patient conditions.</p><p>Finally, the protection of our health care workers from infectious diseases is vital to their health and the ability of the health care system to continue caring for patients. Health care workers need gowns, gloves, face masks, respirators and other equipment, much of which is manufactured in China and cannot be easily replaced by domestic manufacturers. In 2023, Chinese manufacturers provided the majority of the N95 and other respirators used in health care. Additionally, China was the source for one-third of the disposable face masks, two-thirds of the non-disposable face masks, and 94% of the plastic gloves used in health care.<a href="#fn2"><sup>2</sup></a> The lack of this essential equipment will not only put patients at risk but also threaten our health care delivery personnel.</p><p>Thank you for your consideration of our concerns on this important matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how to preserve access to essential pharmaceuticals and devices with your team. Please feel free to have your designee contact me or Nancy Foster, AHA vice president for quality and patient safety policy, at 202-626-2337 or nfoster@aha.org.</p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>/s/</p><p>Richard J. Pollack<br>President and Chief Executive Officer</p><hr><ol><li id="fn1">Neils Graham, Atlantic Council, April 19, 2023; The US is relying more on China for pharmaceuticals and vice versa.</li><li id="fn2">AdvaMed presentation 2023</li></ol></div><div class="col-md-4"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2025/02/AHA-Urges-Administration-to-Grant-Exceptions-for-Tariffs-for-Medications-and-Medical-Supplies.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the AHA Urges Administration to Grant Exceptions for Tariffs for Medications and Medical Supplies letter PDF.">Download the letter PDF</a></div><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/02/AHA-Urges-Administration-to-Grant-Exceptions-for-Tariffs-for-Medications-and-Medical-Supplies.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the AHA Urges Administration to Grant Exceptions for Tariffs for Medications and Medical Supplies letter PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-AHA-Urges-Administration-to-Grant-Exceptions-for-Tariffs-for-Medications-and-Medical-Supplies-letter.png" data-entity-uuid="7b65288a-4404-46df-a4d2-2055dbbc12b4" data-entity-type="file" alt="AHA Urges Administration to Grant Exceptions for Tariffs for Medications and Medical Supplies letter page 1." width="695" height="900"></a></p></div></div></div> Wed, 05 Feb 2025 07:54:44 -0600 Supply chain management /news/headline/2025-01-29-baxter-announces-all-manufacturing-lines-nc-plant-have-restarted <p>Baxter Jan. 28 <a href="https://www.baxter.com/baxter-newsroom/hurricane-helene-updates">announced</a> that IV solutions production has been restarted on all manufacturing lines at its North Carolina site impacted by Hurricane Helene in October. Baxter said some of the manufacturing lines will require additional time to increase production, and the company expects production to return to pre-hurricane levels early in the first quarter of 2025.<br> </p> Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:40:07 -0600 Supply chain management /news/headline/2024-12-10-baxter-restores-additional-iv-solutions-production-lines <p>Baxter has resumed production on all of its 3-liter irrigation and peritoneal dialysis solutions manufacturing lines, the company <a href="https://www.baxter.com/baxter-newsroom/hurricane-helene-updates">announced</a> Dec. 5. The company noted that despite production resuming for those lines, more time is needed to restore output to levels reached prior to Hurricane Helene. Baxter expects all manufacturing lines to resume operation by the end of the month.</p> Tue, 10 Dec 2024 15:09:03 -0600 Supply chain management