Supply Chain

The American Red Cross, which supplies 40 percent of the nation's blood, on Jan. 11 declared the first-ever national blood crisis. 

Medical device recalls, whether voluntary or mandated by the FDA, ensure patient safety. 

The increasing demand for COVID-19 testing is prompting some labs across the U.S. to ration access and prioritize patients presenting symptoms or other health concerns, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 10.

As we approach the end of the year, many health systems will likely be looking for opportunities for any additional cost savings after facing financial headwinds throughout 2021.

North Carolina awarded CVS Caremark, CVS Health's pharmacy benefit manager, a $3.4 billion contract to serve the state's 727,000 public employees. 

ECRI, a nonprofit organization focused on patient safety and healthcare quality, released the first public ranking of commonly used at-home COVID-19 test kits based on usability. 

Owens & Minor, a global healthcare logistics company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Apria, a home healthcare equipment provider. 

Michigan received its first shipment of paxlovid and molnupiravir, new oral medications to treat COVID-19, officials confirmed Jan. 7.

The federal government has resumed shipping all three COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments to systems across the U.S. despite evidence two of the three may be ineffective in treating omicron, The Washington Post reported Jan. 9. 

Lyon County (Kan.) declared a local emergency Jan. 7 after Newman Regional Hospital ran out of ventilators, The Kansas City Star reported.