September 2025 | From HIDA's Healthcare Distribution & Supply Chain™ magazine
More than 85 healthcare distributors and manufacturers took to Capitol Hill for nearly 100 meetings with Senators, Representatives and their staff in June 2025. HIDA’s top priority was to educate Congress on the impact that tariffs are having on the medical supply chain, and to advocate for tariff relief for critical medical products. The uncertainty around constantly shifting tariff policy complicates supply planning, with added costs ultimately absorbed by the healthcare system. Tariffs may slow progress toward supply chain resilience, and healthcare costs will likely rise as a result.
Crucially, these high-level discussions underscore the vital role HIDA members play in shaping policy. Their firsthand experience and insights are indispensable in Washington, directly informing decision-makers and ensuring that efforts accurately address the real-world needs of the healthcare supply chain.
Policy panels at the Washington Summit offered subject matter experts on tariffs and trade. A bipartisan panel of Congressional staffers gave attendees advice on effective advocacy. Congressman Buddy Carter, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, shared his views on efforts make state and federal stockpiles of critical medical products more resilient.
At the Resilience & Preparedness Summit, healthcare distribution and manufacturing leaders joined with public health experts and federal policymakers to collaborate on ways to respond to future public health emergencies. Attendees participated in preparedness exercises and role-played responses to potential threat scenarios that might affect the medical supply chain.
Despite partisan swings and policy uncertainty in Washington, HIDA remains focused on delivering critical medical products to the patients and providers who need them most. Healthcare distributors continue to respond to seasonal respiratory illnesses, as well as emergency outbreaks like bird flu and measles.
Regardless of the politics of the moment, we have a job to do – to be the essential link in the medical supply chain.
Impact By The Numbers
The 2025 Washington Summit saw an upsurge in interest across the board: more attendees (especially first-timers), more meetings, and a wider geographic footprint than ever before.
Covering The Capitol
Bipartisan Scope
49
Meetings With Republicans
48
Meetings With Democrats
Nationwide Reach
Congressional Offices From 32 States
High-Level Meetings
HIDA members met with staff of key Congressional Leaders, including:
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD)
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
House Energy & Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
House Energy & Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Members: Check out the full magazine PDF for all articles in the Summer 2025 issue.
Full Issue