WHA is working alongside the American Hospital Association (AHA) to assist hospitals as they manage a nationwide shortage of IV fluids. The shortage resulted from damage to a Baxter facility in Marion, NC, which provides approximately 60% of the country’s IV solutions, due to Hurricane Helene.
In response to the shortage, the
AHA sent a letter to the Biden Administration on Oct. 7 urging them to act to provide hospitals flexibility in stretching the supply of IV fluids. The letter asked for various flexibilities from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would make it easier to use supplies past their normal shelf life, as well as being more easily able to use drug compounding and/or expedited approval to import new products. It also asked the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to guard against price gouging.
On Oct. 9,
the HHS announced that it was aware of the impending shortage of IV solutions and had been communicating with Baxter and others to assist in a national response.
Baxter has also been issuing updates, including that it intends to increase allocations from 40% since early October to 70% by the end of October and 90-100% by the end of the year. While the announcements from Baxter have been welcome news, they also mean shortage appears likely to persist into 2025.
Adding to the uncertainty in supply lines is the fact that Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm on October 9, causing further widespread damage. Medical manufacturer B. Braun Medical, which makes nearly 25% of the rest of the nation's supply of IV fluids, proactively moved its inventory to a secure facility out of the path of the storm with the assistance of U.S. health authorities. While the manufacturer announced it was temporarily ceasing operations in preparation for the storm, B. Braun Medical planned to resume manufacturing and shipping operations by Friday morning.
WHA has been working to assist its impacted hospitals and health systems, some of whom have announced a pause of elective procedures due to the shortage. WHA has been communicating with the Biden Administration, Wisconsin's Congressional Delegation and Governor Evers' team to urge them to work together to minimize impacts of the shortage on patient care. WHA has also been working to connect its members to Baxter to improve information sharing and is closely monitoring the situation and continuing to advocate for more assistance.
Please contact WHA SVP Workforce and Clinical Practice
Ann Zenk or VP Federal and State Relations
Jon Hoelter with questions.