News

UISS Executives Attend Premier’s Executive Forum in Phoenix

Nicole Hooks — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:32:12 GMT

UISS Executives Attend Premier's Executive Forum

UISS executives joined healthcare leaders from across the country in Phoenix, Arizona, for Premier’s Executive Forum — one of the most significant gatherings for senior members of the Premier alliance.

Held March 9–11, 2026, the Forum brought together executive leaders from health systems and supply chain organizations across the country to engage on the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Topics spanning artificial intelligence, supply chain resiliency, rural health transformation, and strategic innovation were front and center — all directly relevant to the work UISS does on behalf of its member organizations every day.

For UISS, participation in this event reflects our ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of healthcare supply chain developments and ensuring our members benefit from the strongest possible connection to Premier’s national network. The relationships and insights cultivated at the Executive Forum directly inform the guidance, tools, and resources UISS brings back to the IHA/UISS membership.

UISS will share additional takeaways from the Forum in future communications as we translate strategic conversations into actionable updates for our members.

Rural Health Transformation: Identifying Opportunities for UISS Members

Nicole Hooks — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:28:17 GMT

Coming Soon

UISS is actively identifying synergies between our supply chain programs and Rural Health Transformation funding opportunities. Details and member-specific guidance will be shared in forthcoming communication. Stay tuned.

Significant federal investment in rural health transformation is creating new opportunities for IHA/UISS member organizations — particularly those serving rural and underserved communities. UISS is working to identify where our supply chain expertise, Premier partnership, and existing programs align with funding priorities and program eligibility criteria.

As this work develops, we will provide members with targeted guidance on how to leverage these resources — including how supply chain improvements supported by UISS and Premier tools may qualify as components of broader transformation initiatives. More information will be shared in upcoming communications.

If your organization is already exploring rural health transformation funding or has questions about eligibility, please reach out to your UISS representative so we can ensure our guidance is tailored to your needs.

Premier Launches Multi-Year Technology Investment Program

Nicole Hooks — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:11:02 GMT

Building the Healthcare Supply Chain of the Future

Premier Inc. has announced a landmark, large-scale, multi-year technology investment program with the goal of building an intelligent healthcare supply chain of the future. This initiative reflects Premier’s strategic vision under its new ownership by Patient Square Capital and positions the organization — and by extension, UISS member health systems — at the forefront of supply chain innovation.

The program is designed to harness the power of artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics, and platform integration to help healthcare providers operate smarter, reduce costs, and improve patient care outcomes. For UISS members, this investment signals a deepening commitment from Premier to continuously deliver cutting-edge tools and technology-enabled services.

This announcement builds directly on tools already available to members today — including Supply Analytics — and previews a future where intelligent, connected supply chain technology becomes standard across the Premier alliance. UISS will share updates on new capabilities and tools as they become available through this program. Contact your UISS representative for more information.

Supply Chain Stability & the Supply Disruption Manager

Nicole Hooks — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:06:16 GMT

Healthcare Supply Chain Stability: A Critical and Ongoing Challenge

Maintaining supply chain stability remains one of the most critical — and challenging — priorities facing healthcare organizations today. Backorders, drug shortages, and unpredictable supplier disruptions continue to put pressure on operations and patient care. UISS has partnered with Premier to give member hospitals direct access to the Supply Disruption Manager (SDM), a powerful AI-driven tool that is already making a measurable difference.

The SDM uses machine learning combined with a hospital’s own data to proactively identify supply risks before they become crises. Members receive customized reporting on critical items at risk for shortage or unavailability, along with predictive analytics to help prioritize responses and identify preferred substitute products.

Real Results for UISS Members

Within just one month of implementation, one UISS member hospital reported reducing their daily backorders from 7–8 down to just 1–2 — a dramatic improvement that translated directly into better operational stability and fewer disrupted procedures. To date, multiple UISS hospitals have been fully provisioned and trained on the SDM, with additional implementations underway.

UISS’s support model for the SDM includes a dedicated resource for all SDM-related activities, weekly predictive analytics dashboards, and meetings with member hospitals to review results and provide additional insights. The tool is available to UISS members at no additional cost through our Premier partnership.

To learn more or schedule a demo, contact your UISS representative.

Save the Date: 2026 IHA & UISS Events Calendar

Nicole Hooks — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:44:30 GMT

Stay Connected with IHA & UISS!

Save the dates for our upcoming in-person meetings and events that are designed to support collaboration, preparedness, and healthcare leadership across our membership.

Be sure to check back for event updates and information as these dates near!

2026 Premier Breakthroughs Conference

Nicole Hooks — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:03:59 GMT

Save the Date: 2026 Premier Breakthroughs

Breakthroughs is where the healthcare community comes together. Every year, leaders from across our industry gather to connect, collaborate and explore the future of patient care.

Breakthroughs 2026 will be held on October 6-8, 2026 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.

For register information, click here.

For more information, click here.

Current Tariff & Trade Policy Updates

Kathy Kirvin — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:33:08 GMT

U.S. Tariff Policy Updates

PLEASE NOTE: The information provided in this resource page reflects the latest available insights on tariff developments at the time of publication. Given the dynamic nature of trade policies, regulations, and market conditions, updates may occur frequently. Readers are encouraged to verify details with official sources (www.whitehouse.gov) and industry experts, as prior posts serve as point-in-time references and may not reflect the most current changes.

Pharmacy Tariff Report – March 2026

Pharmaceutical Tariffs: What We Know

The global trade landscape is shifting, and pharmaceutical tariffs remain a critical topic for health systems and suppliers alike. Our latest report breaks down:

✅ Recent trade agreements and exemptions
✅ Potential impacts on brand and generic pharmaceuticals
✅ Inflation projections and strategies for FY26

This resource is designed to help GPO members navigate uncertainty and plan effectively for the year ahead.Latest Update: Effective February 24, 2026, the Trump administration has replaced the now-defunct IEEPA tariffs with a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a move triggered by the Supreme Court’s ruling that IEEPA cannot be used to levy duties. This new “balance of payments” tariff applies uniformly to most trading partners for a 150-day window, though it maintains critical exceptions for USMCA-qualified goods and specific pharmaceuticals and medical ingredients mirrored from previous lists. While this provides a temporary legal bridge, the administration is simultaneously launching broad Section 301 investigations to establish more permanent, country-specific trade barriers by this summer.

📥 Check out the full report on pharmacy-specific insights here PharmaceuticalTariffUpdates-February_March2026.pdf

📞 For questions or deeper discussion, reach out to Sudha Narayanaswamy at sudha_narayanaswamy@premierinc.com.

Tracker for Supplier Submitted Price Increases

Out of the thousands of contracts Premier manages, only a small number of suppliers have submitted requests for price increases related to tariffs. We’ve compiled these into a list to help our members and account management teams track them more easily.

Visit the Value Assurance Community to view an up-to-date tracker.

For additional questions about a specific supplier or contract, please reach out to Talmadge_Patterson@PremierInc.com.

Sunsetting of Premier’s Tariff Impact and Risk Modeling System

Following the Supreme Court’s decision that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the imposition of tariffs, and the subsequent termination of all IEEPA‑based tariffs, Premier has sunset the Reciprocal Tariff (IEEPA) Impact and Risk Modeling System.

With respect to current trade actions and based on current conditions, at this time Premier does not anticipate that the recently announced Section 122 tariffs will affect contracted pricing during the period they are in effect (up to 150 days, or through July 24, 2026). Consistent with this approach, Premier has also temporarily archived the pharmaceutical tariff dashboard and is not including tariff‑associated pricing estimates in the March update of the bi‑annual Drug Budget Tool.

Situation Report

4/2/26 - The Trump administration Releases Two Executive Orders.

White House Strengthens Section 232 Tariffs on Aluminum, Steel, and Copper Imports
- The President issued a proclamation modifying existing Section 232 tariff regimes to apply ad valorem duties to the full customs value of aluminum, steel, and copper articles and covered derivative products, regardless of metal content. Effective April 6, 2026, most covered products will face 25 percent or 50 percent tariffs, with reduced rates available for certain U.K. products and for derivative articles made entirely with U.S. origin metals.
White House Adjusts Imports of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Ingredients Under Section 232
- The President issued a proclamation determining that imports of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients threaten to impair U.S. national security, citing heavy reliance on foreign manufacturing for finished drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The action establishes a Section 232 framework to adjust pharmaceutical imports, with the goal of reducing dependence on foreign supply chains and strengthening domestic drug manufacturing capacity.

3/4/26 – Section 122, Temporary Tariff Authority Explained

Section 122 gives the President fast, temporary authority to impose uniform import restrictions, including tariffs of up to 15% or import quotas, when a large or imminent U.S. balance‑of‑payments deficit is declared, without the investigations required under Sections 232 or 301.
Following the Supreme Court’s invalidation of IEEPA tariff authority, President Trump invoked Section 122 for the first time, imposing a 10% global tariff effective February 24, 2026, with select exemptions such as pharmaceuticals and USMCA‑qualifying goods.
Section 122 tariffs are limited in scope and duration, must apply uniformly across all countries, cannot exceed 15%, and automatically expire after 150 days (July 24, 2026) unless Congress votes to extend them, creating near‑term uncertainty.
The administration views Section 122 as a bridge, signaling a longer‑term strategy that may rely on other trade authorities such as Sections 232 and 301 to pursue more targeted or higher tariffs, amid ongoing legal and political uncertainty.

Premier and External Resources

UISS Educational Scholarship Program

Kathy Kirvin — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

UISS is pleased to announce that we are again offering the Educational Scholarship Program for 2026. The Scholarship Program was introduced two years ago to support professional development within the Supply Chain Management field. The program has been a great success with many scholarships awarded. We are pleased to continue this venture on behalf of the IHA/UISS membership.

We will be awarding 25 scholarships and will offer funds to cover one of the following choices for each awardee:

Membership in the Association of Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM)
Preparation course for Certification in Certified Materials & Resource Professional (CMRP)
Certified Materials & Resource Professional (CMRP) Certification
Online AHRMM course

Application Process

To apply, please complete the following steps:

Complete the application form by clicking the button below
Obtain supervisor signature
Submit by Monday, April 6, 2026

We’re Hiring!

Kathy Kirvin — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:00:00 GMT

The Senior Regional Director forUnited Iroquois Shared Services, Inc.has healthcare supply chain experience in an acute and non-acute care environment. The role responsible for the development, retention, growth, and value realization of assigned healthcare accounts. This role serves as a Supply Chain expert and trusted advisor to hospitals and health systems, leading account strategy, driving adoption of UISS and Premier products and services, managing cross-functional resources, and delivering measurable financial and operational value.

IHA LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW WEBINAR

Kathy Kirvin — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:00:00 GMT

This week we held a Legislative Preview Webinar with IHA President & CEO Kevin Kerwin and the IHA Advocacy Team. You can access the presentation and webinar recording below.