The federal government spent $8.2 billion on medical supplies in 2021's fiscal year, amounting to a 38 percent drop in medical supply spending from the prior year, according to a Jan. 12 report from the Health Industry Distributors Association.
Medical supply spending continues to be higher compared to pre-pandemic years, the report found. From Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021, the $8.2 billion included $4.7 billion for civilian departments and agencies, and $3.4 billion was medical supply purchases.
The findings, which did not include pharmaceuticals, revealed that 98 percent of the U.S. government's medical supply purchases were from four departments: the Defense Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs, HHS and the Department of Homeland Security. During this fiscal year, diverse small businesses were awarded $1.35 billion.