Bill Overview
Title: Strengthening Supply Chains for Servicemembers and Security Act
Description: This bill addresses Department of Defense (DOD) supply chain risk management, specifically risk management related to pharmaceuticals. The bill requires the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment within DOD to develop and issue implementing guidance for risk management for DOD supply chains for materiel (e.g., pharmaceuticals) and identify supply chain information gaps regarding reliance on foreign suppliers of drugs. After such guidance is issued, the Defense Health Agency must develop and publish implementing guidance for risk management for DOD's supply chain for pharmaceuticals and establish a working group to assess risks to the pharmaceutical supply chain, identify the pharmaceuticals most critical to beneficiary care at military treatment facilities, and establish policies for allocating scarce pharmaceutical resources. Finally, the Defense Logistics Agency must modify Defense Logistics Agency Instructions 5025.03 and 3110.01 to require Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support to coordinate annually with customers in the military departments to test responsiveness of the agency's contingency contracts for pharmaceuticals and to include the results of the testing in the annual Warstopper Program reports.
Sponsors: Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
Target Audience
Population: Servicemembers impacted via DoD pharmaceutical supply chain management
Estimated Size: 13000000
- This bill impacts those connected to the Department of Defense, particularly regarding supply chain risk management for pharmaceuticals.
- Pharmaceutical supply chains relevant to the DOD are emphasized, focusing on reducing reliance on foreign suppliers, which can impact global trade preferences.
- The bill specifically targets supply chains oriented towards military treatment facilities, which directly affects servicemembers and their families.
- By altering how the Department of Defense manages pharmaceutical contingencies, the bill indirectly affects pharmaceutical companies, both domestic and international.
Reasoning
- The primary target population for this policy includes active duty servicemembers, military dependents, and healthcare providers within the Military Health System who would experience changes in the availability and reliability of pharmaceuticals.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy's initiatives must be efficiently deployed to key areas where pharmaceutical supply chain improvements can have the highest impact on military treatment facilities.
- There will be a range of impacts from none to high across different individuals in the military community. Some may remain unaffected, while others experience notable improvements in access to essential medications.
- Considering the scale of the target population, estimating wellbeing improvements requires looking at both direct impacts on healthcare service quality and indirect socio-economic effects on military and pharmaceutical communities.
Simulated Interviews
Navy Officer (San Diego, California)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved pharmaceutical logistics are crucial for mission readiness.
- Ensuring consistent drug supply reduces stress among servicemembers regarding healthcare.
- Dependence on foreign suppliers is risky; local production should be prioritized.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Army Medic (Fort Bragg, North Carolina)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring a reliable drug supply will greatly assist in patient care.
- Frequent stockouts have been a concern in keeping up with patient needs.
- This policy will ensure we are prepared for supply chain disruptions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Pharmaceutical Supplier (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reduction in foreign supply dependency could benefit my business.
- I am eager to understand the new guidelines for suppliers to the DOD.
- This may open opportunities for domestic pharmaceutical companies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
DoD Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a critical move towards securing our supply chains.
- Optimizing supplier relationships is vital for both national security and defense healthcare.
- Monitoring and testing supply chain readiness is crucial in today's geopolitical climate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Defense Contractor (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There's potential growth in aligning with new supply chain protocols.
- Ensuring domestic supply sources aligns with patriotism and business.
- I expect increased contracts if I adapt swiftly to these changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Military Spouse (Norfolk, Virginia)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to our medications without delay is essential, especially for kids.
- This policy brings relief knowing our medical needs will be more consistently met.
- Worry about medication availability has been a constant stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Veteran Affairs Pharmacist (San Antonio, Texas)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies improving drug availability are always beneficial.
- The challenge lies in smoothly transitioning from foreign to domestic suppliers.
- Veterans depend heavily on uninterrupted medication supplies; this policy is vital.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired Nurse (Miami, Florida)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to see a focus on securing vital supplies in military healthcare.
- My experience shows that logistical inefficiencies can severely impact patient care.
- I hope this initiative maintains enough focus on beneficiaries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Biosecurity Consultant (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy marks a significant investment in national healthcare security.
- Reducing reliance on overseas suppliers helps fortify biosecurity.
- I anticipate new collaborations between DOD and biosecurity sectors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Public Health Researcher (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Defense Health Agency's approach here could serve as a model for civilian healthcare.
- Supply chain resilience is fundamental in responding to public health emergencies.
- I'm keen to see data from this implementation for broader applications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10500000 (Low: $8500000, High: $12500000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $9500000 (Low: $7000000, High: $11500000)
Year 5: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The policy may improve supply chain resiliency, especially in crisis scenarios.
- There is an upfront cost in organizing and training personnel to align with new guidelines.
- Long-term savings can be realized through enhanced efficiency and better risk management.