Supply Chain

Walgreens Boots Alliance and Kroger said Dec. 10 they are forming a new group purchasing organization called the Retail Procurement Alliance. 

Abbott is warning of two separate potential safety issues involving its HeartMate 3 implant used to treat advanced heart failure, according to MedTech Dive. 

The FDA Dec. 5 approved the marketing of a new diagnostic test for MRSA from Roche Molecular Systems that yields results hours faster than traditional tests. 

Stephen Hahn, MD, advanced by the Senate health committee this week in his bid to become the next FDA commissioner, outlined some of his plans for regulating medical devices, according to MedTech Dive. 

Edwards Lifesciences predicted its global sales will hit $5 billion next year, an increase of 12 percent, during its annual conference Dec. 5 in New York City.

The medical device excise tax would cost 21,000 full-time jobs and a $1.7 billion reduction in gross domestic product if it returns next year, according to a report released this week by the nonprofit Tax Foundation. 

Dexcom said Dec. 4 that its continuous glucose monitors are now fully functional again after a service outage caused them to stop sending alerts over the weekend, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

Ten hospitals and health systems posted job listings seeking supply chain expertise in the last week:

Viant Medical has signed a consent order with the state of Michigan to end its sterilization operations in Grand Rapids by the end of the year. 

The FDA sent a warning letter Dec. 3 to American Contract Systems, a medical devicemaker and contract sterilizer, sayings its facility in Houston failed to validate its sterilization operations.