HIDA
BY MATTHEW J. ROWAN
Securing Medical Supplies During a National Crisis A critical lesson from the COVID-19 experience is the importance of emer-
efforts. According to reporting by the
gency sources of medical products like personal protective equipment when a crisis hits.
Associated Press, nearly two dozen states
Nearly 20 states are now considering action to require stockpiles of PPE, but many of
had maintained modest medical supply
those efforts could diminish our nation’s ability to store and deploy useable supplies
stockpiles prior to 2020, but due to main-
when we need them most.
tenance costs many of those stockpiled products had become outdated and the overall numbers were too small to meet
Stockpile mandates have the potential
health emergency, states should partner
the massive need created by COVID.
to impose unsustainable burdens on our
with the private sector to stockpile sup-
healthcare system, leading to excessive
plies using existing medical product stor-
prove preparedness for a future pandemic
spending, increased prices, and poorly
age and distribution infrastructure.
by using executive orders or new legislation
maintained or obsolete supplies. To ensure we are prepared for the next public
50
COVID exposed significant inadequacies in our country’s previous stockpiling
Coast-to-coast, states are trying to im-
to require enhanced stockpiles of PPE. Last year, California passed a law requiring
August 2021 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
