Gallego Calls on Administration to Address IV and Dialysis Solutions Shortage, Protect Arizonans’ Health

Gallego Calls on Administration to Address IV and Dialysis Solutions Shortage, Protect Arizonans' Health

PHOENIX - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03)sent a letter to President Biden urging him to take immediate action to address a growing IV and dialysis solutions shortage. IV solutions - critical for providing care at health facilities - are in short supply after Hurricane Helene forced one of the country's largest manufacturing facilities to close. The shortage could grow worse as another major facility is in the potential path of Hurricane Milton.

"IV and dialysis solutions are critical to providing care at health facilities across the country, including hospitals and health systems," Rep. Gallego wrote. "Unfortunately, due to the damage at the Baxter facility, I am hearing from hospitals in my state that they are being informed of supply issues and have been put on strict ordering restrictions. A prolonged shortage of IV solutions would be disastrous for the health and safety of Arizonans and would make it more difficult for medical professionals to provide care."

In the letter, Rep. Gallego urges the President to consider the following actions to help Arizona's hospitals and health care providers keep Arizonans safe:

• Appoint a member of his Administration to address IV and dialysis solutions supply issues and serve as a point of contact for hospitals and health systems.

• Declare a national emergency and public health emergency.

• Declare an official shortage of IV solutions.

• Provide additional flexibility to hospitals and health systems to allow them to prepare IV solutions internally.

• Consider extending the expiration dates of IV solutions wherever possible.

"In addition to the above actions to aid providers, additional actions will likely be needed to alleviate the supply issues moving forward," he concludes. "This may include invoking the Defense Production Act to improve domestic supply chains, as well as connecting international suppliers with health systems across the country."

Full text of the letter can be found HERE.