Another Whitewash of GPO Culpability in Soaring Costs and Shortages in the Drug Supply Chain?

By Marion Mass, MD and Craig M. Wax, DO

It appears the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on Health is preparing to whitewash the culpability of GPOs in causing drug shortages and soaring prices at its May 9th hearing on the drug supply chain.

Will any Committee Membersbe willing to ask any of the hard hitting questions below?

1. Multiple government panels have pointed to the GPO (Group Purchasing Organizations) role as a root cause of drug shortages.This is causing an increase in overall costs. InChairman Pallone’s spin memo announcing the hearing they are spun as ” GPOs help hospitals and physicians aggregate purchasing volume to negotiate discounts with manufacturers and distributors.” Americans are NOT seeing lower healthcare costs. Can anyone on the panel tell me why the GPO are given this free pass? Perhaps Chairman Pallone needs a new title: honorary spin doctor.

2. Hopkins…