On October 10, 2024, Premier Inc. released survey data indicating that more than 86 percent of providers are facing an IV fluid shortage, with over half of respondents possessing a 10-day supply or less. Damage sustained by Hurricane Helene led to the closure of a plant that manufactures over 60 percent of the IV fluid in the U.S. On October 9, 2024, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra released a letter outlining steps HHS is taking to address the shortage, including increasing production at other facilities, temporarily permitting importation of IV fluid from abroad, and expediting consideration of shelf-life extension requests.    

Impact on General Dentistry: The Academy of General Dentistry has been monitoring the impact of Hurricane Helene on both providers and patients. Providers across the healthcare industry have struggled with supply chain issues in the immediate aftermath of the storm, including accessing critical supplies like IV fluid.