Statement on the GAO Report on the Gaps in the Strategic National Stockpile

By Michael J. Alkire, President and CEO, Premier Inc.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report is yet another proof point that the management of the Strategic National Stockpile remains in dire need of reform. Until fixed, the potential for reliving the early days of the pandemic when gaps in critical supplies left healthcare providers short-handed and patients at risk is real and will continue to present a threat to the public health and to our national security.

We applaud GAO’s recommendation to develop an approach for regularly managing the risks of gaps and estimating resources needed to address them. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Premier has called for a host of reforms to improve the management of the SNS and holistically address the multitude of weaknesses exposed by the pandemic. Premier believes the SNS must be built by providers for providers. Instead of a supply chain of last resort, the SNS must leverage data and insights to assist providers in the delivery of care during public health emergencies that is in the best interest of patients – and to ensure access to the right supplies, at the right time.

Moving forward, Premier believes the SNS can be strengthened by creating a streamlined and automated process for accessing product from the SNS, reporting distributions made from the SNS, rotating inventory and working with organizations such as Premier to forecast demand and help aggregate purchasing volume and keep prices competitive. Central to this effort is the creation of an integrated data infrastructure that provides real-time, end-to-end insights into supply needs. We call on Congress to pass the Medical and Health Stockpile Accountability Act of 2022 (H.R. 6520) to create an automated supply chain data infrastructure and make other much-needed improvements to the SNS.

Premier looks forward to working with HHS on its strategic plan to guide future SNS efforts and with Congress and the private sector to implement a cohesive and holistic national strategy for strengthening the SNS and ensuring preparedness.