Medical Suppliers and Covid-19

Medical Suppliers and Covid-19 have become synonymous in today’s climate. Never before has the United States been hit so hard by a pandemic with lingering uncertainty. The private sector is ramping up its ability to help with slow the spread of Covid-19 and ensure the medical workers have access to enough supplies. However, supplies are very limited. The general public has bought up masks, gloves, and for some reason, toilet paper, in hoards. IF you are looking for Medical Supplies for your Facility or practice, read more HERE for best practices.  

In the medical field, we have all heard that the ventilator supply is running dangerously low. In addition, N95 masks are near impossible to find with stretchers, IV poles, isolation carts, cloth masks, and gloves in short supply as well. As the Covid-19 continues to swell, medical supplies become the priority to fill. 

This is the time for medical suppliers to shine as they are the go-between from hospitals to their supplies. Healthcare providers are tirelessly searching for supplies and equipment, whether purchasing brand-new, used, refurbished, or hoping for a rental. 

As you can imagine, the market has been required to adjust to these uncertain times in uncharted waters. Here is how the medical suppliers have been working to keep their heads afloat. 

The Government Has Issued Temporary Waivers for Medical Suppliers during Covid-19

There has never been a time that has warranted shortcuts like the Covid-19 pandemic has. In order to make the response time quicker and remove unnecessary barriers, the Trump administration has allowed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) the ability to follow new rules with the hopes of ensuring local hospitals are well stocked, rapidly expanding the medical workforce, increase access to telehealth, expanding in-home testing and putting patients over paperwork to minimize the stress of audit requirements so that medical staff can focus primarily on patient care. 

Specifically, some of these waivers will help with the following for medical suppliers:

• The ability to replace Durable Medical Equipment (DME) without the typical requirements when the equipment is lost, destroyed, or rendered unusable. Suppliers must still retain a narrative with each claim. This greatly reduces paperwork. 
• Accreditation requirements are being extended. 
• Signatures for proof of delivery are currently being waived. 
• Additionally, CMS is waiving certain screening requirements, postponing all revalidation actions, and expediting new applications from providers. 
• Here is a great article in reference to those waivers

How We Help the Supply Chain

It has been no surprise that this pandemic has brought about serious disruptions with the healthcare supply chain. What this means is that medical suppliers have become essential employees, sourcing new equipment and supplies around the clock. They have also limited what each account is allowed to purchase. Even though hospitals are being capped by their medical suppliers, it also ensures that the hardest-hit areas are receiving an appropriate amount of equipment first. 

How Other Companies are Supporting Medical Suppliers

The biggest highlight of the private sector infiltrating into the medical supply industry has come down to ingenuity. Many companies have stepped up to the plate to slow or completely halt the production of their own product in exchange for manufacturing something new. 

• My Pillow: Mike Lindell has asked America to pray away coronavirus as he shifts the production of pillows to face masks. In fact, he’s shifted nearly 75% of his manufacturing efforts just for this pandemic. 
• Ford: From fast cars to face masks, Ford is committed to producing medical equipment as well by partnering with GE Health and 3M. 
• Endless West and Bev: These alcoholic drink companies are giving up production of beverages to manufacture hand sanitizer, along with many more across the country.
• InkSmith: This company has shifted from making tech tools for kids to hiring up to 100 new employees to make face masks instead. 
• MarkForged and Formlabs: These 3D printing companies have ramped up production for 3D printed face shields, nasal swabs, etc.
• Altress: This small dressmaking company has been tasked with making surgical masks and they are up to the challenge. 
• Bauer: Usually producing hockey equipment, they have now put facemasks into production. 
• Nordstrom: This retailer is also helping ramp up efforts for face masks. 
• Toyota: This car manufacturer has switched gears to producing face shields, Covid-19 masks, ventilators, and respirators. 
• Various fashion designers have also stepped up to create fashionable, cloth face masks for the masses. 

Final Thoughts On Medical Suppliers

While the outbreak of Covid-19 has left the state of the nation uncertain with unanswered questions, there’s one thing that remains unchanged. That thing is the ingenuity and teamwork of the American worker and medical suppliers during Covid-19. Equipment is continually being manufactured by companies around our nation and around the world. Barriers are being lifted so medical teams can focus on patient care.