🚢 Axios Vitals: Suppy chain problems

Plus: Open enrollment starts | Monday, November 01, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By PhRMA   Axios Vitals By Tina Reed ·Nov 01, 2021 Good morning, Vitals readers. On this first day of November — yes, it's actually November already — the newsletter is 799 words or a 3-minute read. 🍺 On tap this week: A key CDC advisory committee will meet Tuesday to talk about Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recommendations for kids under 12. Situational awareness: The global toll of confirmed deaths from the coronavirus has surpassed 5 million, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.     1 big thing: Health care plagued by supply chain shortages Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   From medications to gloves to crutches, the strains of the global supply chain are hitting U.S. health care hard. Why it matters: Shortages of health care supplies can quickly jump from a nuisance to a life-or-death proposition. They indicate serious vulnerabilities in the U.S. health care supply chain. State of play: After seeing major supply shortages for protective equipment and ventilators in the early months of the pandemic, critical supplies stabilized and, in some places, demand for domestic products later bottomed out. Now global supply chain tie-ups are rippling across the industry again, leading to extended wait times for commonly used supplies and equipment. What they're saying: "We're experiencing a vast array of global challenges that, layered together, create bottlenecks in a system not designed for such demands," according to an October report from medical supply giant Premier. Premier projects the problems for health care to last well into 2022. Details: Some hospitals around the U.S. recently began seeking donations of aluminum crutches, walkers and wheelchairs. The FDA is investigating allegations that used medical gloves were washed and resold as new gloves. Hundreds of drugs are in shortage at hospital pharmacies, including the anti-inflammatory drug tocilizumab, which is given to both cancer and COVID-19 patients, CBS News reported. There are shortages of raw materials for manufacturing, including plastic resins that can be used to make everything from car parts to heart valves. The chip shortage hit ResMed, a company that creates ventilators, sleep apnea machines, and other respiratory equipment, San Diego Union-Tribune reported last week. Related: Biden talks supply chain challenges with world leaders on final day of G20     2. Uninsured rate steady amid pandemic Data: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Map: Thomas Oide/Axios The rate of uninsured Americans in 2020 remained relatively stable — between 8.6% and 9.7% — despite pandemic-related job losses and other economic challenges, according to data released by HHS. Biden administration officials released the numbers just ahead of the start of open enrollment in the federal health insurance marketplaces today as evidence of the Affordable Care Act's impact. By the numbers: The data from the National Health Interview Survey estimates 31.6 million people under 65 were uninsured in the first six months of 2020, similar to the 33.2 million Americans uninsured in 2019. Yes, but: Uninsured rates continue to be higher among Latinos (18.3%), Black Americans (10.4%), as well as people with incomes below the poverty level (17.2%). Uninsured rates are also higher in states that haven't expanded Medicaid (17.6%). What they're saying: "Our attention in this open enrollment — and throughout the year, but particularly this one — is continuing to reach the harder to reach populations ... making sure we're moving the needle in terms of the uninsured," CMS administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure told Axios.     3. Mental health system buckling under demand Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   There's been a drastic increase in the number of Americans who need mental health care during the pandemic. It's put even more stress on a system that was already strained by the significantly lower pre-pandemic demand, Axios' Caitlin Owens wrote over the weekend as part of an Axios AM Deep Dive. By the numbers: Psychologists are reporting increases in demand for care since last year — when demand had already spiked compared to before the pandemic, according to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association. The greatest increases in demand are for treatment for depression, anxiety and trauma- or stressor-related disorders. Around two-thirds of psychologists surveyed said their waitlists have gotten longer since the pandemic started and that they don't have the capacity for new patients. Nearly half said they feel burned out. "Prior to the pandemic, we had a workforce system that could not meet the need when it comes to mental and behavioral health care, and the pandemic has only exacerbated that," said Vaile Wright, senior director for health care innovation at the APA. Read more.     A message from PhRMA Fixing health care means putting patients first     From out-of-pocket costs, to deductibles, to hospital bills – the most vulnerable patients face challenges. 3 in 10 Americans who have insurance still face a financial barrier to care. We need to make the cost of medicine more predictable and affordable. Learn more.     4. How abortion access could change Data: Axios Research; Cartogram: Sara Wise and Oriana Gonzalez/Axios Abortion would immediately become illegal in at least 12 states if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, and more would likely follow suit quickly, Axios' Oriana Gonzalez and Sara Wise report. Driving the news: The court on Monday will hear oral arguments in two cases challenging a Texas law effectively banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Abortion providers and the Justice Department are both challenging the law. A month later, the court will hear another major abortion case, challenging Mississippi's ban on abortion after 15 weeks. The state is asking the court to overturn Roe. Where it stands: If the court were to ultimately overturn the precedents that established the constitutional right to an abortion, a patchwork of state laws would govern the procedure. Share this story.     5. While you were weekending Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images   What health care items are in — and out — of Biden's domestic policy plan. (Modern Healthcare) Vice President Kamala Harris received a third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine Saturday. (Axios) COVID-19 vaccines more protective than past infection, study shows. (Associated Press)     A message from PhRMA Fixing health care means putting patients first     From out-of-pocket costs, to deductibles, to hospital bills – the most vulnerable patients face challenges. 3 in 10 Americans who have insurance still face a financial barrier to care. We need to make the cost of medicine more predictable and affordable. Learn more.   Enjoy this email but not a subscriber yet? Click here to get on the list! Like this email style and format? Learn more about Axios HQ. It'll help you deliver employee communications more effectively.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? 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