Bipartisan PREVENT Pandemics Act Will Advance Preparedness

The Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA) continues to work with Congress to support a pandemic

preparedness strategy that builds domestic reserves, diversifies production, and is distributor managed to ensure a resilient healthcare supply chain. The recent introduction of bipartisan legislation in the United States Senate gives us reason for optimism that Congress may be able to pass legislation by the end of the year that applies many of the lessons our members have acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Richard Burr (R-NC), the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, have introduced the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats (PREVENT) Pandemics Act. The PREVENT Pandemics Act is focused on strengthening the nation’s public health and medical preparedness and response systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is much to be commended in the PREVENT Pandemics Act: ʯ Bipartisan Legislation: HIDA applauds Senator Murray and Senator Burr for their leadership on pandemic preparedness. Bipartisan solutions are required to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. HIDA has worked closely on the drafting of preparedness legislation, and worked closely with Senators Murray and Burr to incorporate policy recommendations that are based on our years of collaboration with federal partners on preparedness and the medical supply chain.

ʯ Public-Private Partnerships: The PREVENT

Pandemics Act recognizes the vital role of publicprivate partnerships in managing medical supplies during a pandemic. The bill incorporates authorizing the Department of Health and Human

Services to contract with medical products distributors to manage a surge capacity of pandemic supplies. This would create a bigger cushion of needed supplies, and allows for critical time to ramp up manufacturing production.

By Mary Beth Spencer, HIDA Director of Government Affairs

ʯ Extended Contract Dura-

tion: To invest in capacity, manufacturers need certainty that there will be long term market demand for certain medical supplies. The Federal government should make long term commitments to manufacturing partners, which will ensure surge capacity in the event of a public health emergency. The PREVENT Pandemics Act takes a step in the right direction by requiring contract commitments of at least two years. HIDA believes five-year contracts would give manufacturers a stronger incentive to invest in capacity.

HIDA has welcomed the introduction of the PREVENT Pandemics Act, and has continued to share our input with Congress on these issues. Medical products distributors have unique subject matter expertise on this topic. There are more than 500 healthcare distribution centers in over 46 states, with established, direct relationships with end users of medical supplies. HIDA members deliver medical products and supplies, manage logistics, and offer customer services to virtually every healthcare provider. In 2020, they reliably delivered 51 billion units of PPE “the last mile” to providers. As Congress continues to deliberate on these critical issues, HIDA is proud to remain a voice for our industry in Washington and beyond.