Chairman Rick Scott and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging have sent a letter to the presidents and chief executive officers of Premier, Inc., Vizient, and HealthTrust Performance Group. The senators are seeking information about weaknesses in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain, particularly concerning the reliance on foreign manufacturers and gaps in regulatory oversight that may put American patients at risk.
The request comes as part of an ongoing committee investigation into how overreliance on drugs produced abroad could lead to unsafe or unavailable medications for Americans, especially seniors. The senators are focusing on how group purchasing organizations (GPOs) can help improve transparency, quality, and resilience in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
This latest inquiry follows a recent investigative report by Scott and Gillibrand that highlighted risks associated with foreign-manufactured generic drugs. In September, the committee held a hearing examining threats to drug safety and availability due to this dependence. Another hearing in October brought together experts to discuss ways to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical supply chains. The senators have also written to FDA Commissioner Martin Makary regarding concerns about oversight of imported generic drugs, and recently contacted HHS about dangers linked to foreign-produced medications.
In their letter, Scott and Gillibrand wrote: “The Senate Special Committee on Aging is examining how vulnerable pharmaceutical supply chains present a risk to supply chain security. As group purchasing organizations (GPO), Vizient, Premier, Inc., and HealthTrust Performance Group play a pivotal role in leveraging size to bring down costs, allowing small providers to enjoy the same prices as larger health systems. GPOs also enable health systems to focus on delivering quality care as they can specialize in price negotiations and deal shopping. Given this essential responsibility, we write to request information and insight regarding existing supply chain vulnerabilities.”
They referenced recent reports showing that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed exemptions for certain drugs or ingredients from import bans imposed due to substandard manufacturing conditions at foreign factories. These exemptions have mostly involved factories in China and India since 2013, raising concerns about potentially unsafe drugs entering the U.S. market.
The letter also addressed global trade instability as another threat to the pharmaceutical supply chain—especially for key starting materials (KSM), active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and generic drugs sourced from China and India. The senators cited a recent trade dispute where China imposed new export restrictions shortly after reaching an agreement with the U.S., suggesting that similar actions could affect pharmaceutical exports in future conflicts.
“Ultimately, the interaction between regulatory oversight and geopolitical dynamics presents significant challenges to the safety and reliability of our pharmaceutical supply chain,” they wrote.
Scott and Gillibrand requested detailed information from each GPO by November 30, 2025. They asked whether these organizations currently purchase any drugs exempted from import bans; if so, which ones; when they became aware of quality issues; how long current inventories would last if exports from China stopped; whether buyers receive quality information; views on long-term contracts with manufacturers; strategies for handling disruptions; willingness of buyers to pay more for stable supplies; among other questions.
“As chairman and ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, the health and safety of Americans, especially our seniors, is our top priority,” they concluded.
