March 28, 2020
The Honorable Peter T. Gaynor
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
RE: Recommendation to Prioritize Localities or Care Settings for PPE Supplies
Dear Administrator Gaynor:
I am writing to you on behalf of the Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA). Our
members deliver the full range of medical products to the nation’s 300,000 hospitals, nursing
homes, physician offices and home care every day. Medical products distributors deliver the
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that supports core healthcare services every day and in
times of emergency such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
We all share the critical goal of getting PPE and other medical supplies to where they are
needed the most in combating COVID-19. With this goal in mind, I am writing to urge FEMA
to provide the strategic direction needed to more effectively target PPE supplies based on
greatest need.
Since the onset of COVID-19-driven constraints in PPE supplies, our members have appreciated
the government’s support and utilization of the existing supply chain. Our member CEO’s and
executives have been personally engaged with the White House Task Force, the Department of
Health and Human Services and now, FEMA. They have been pleased to respond with
transparency and collaboration to a variety of requests including providing data and subject
matter expertise.
Specifically, distributors need FEMA and the federal government to designate specific
localities, jurisdictions or care settings as priorities for PPE and other medical supplies. The
private sector is not in a position to make these judgements. Only the federal government

 has the data and the authority to provide this strategic direction to the supply chain and the
healthcare system.
Prioritization gives distributors the direction from the federal government to adjust allocation
systems to better target PPE to the COVID-19 “hot spots” and potentially anticipate where the
next ones may develop. Current allocation systems have been effective in conserving supplies
and preventing excessive stockpiling. They also ensure PPE is available for all providers and
supports everyday healthcare services that continue despite the national emergency.
However, more precision is required of allocation processes to respond to COVID-19.
Prioritization is the fastest way to make the next level of precision a reality.
We understand prioritization is on your agenda but urge you to expedite this work. HIDA
members stand ready to collaborate with federal partners with the same transparency and
urgency they have brought to previous requests. We are also confident that the initial
prioritization framework will be rapidly improved over time as more is learned from data and
experience.
This is a recommendation based on our member companies’ experience with COVID-19,
experience delivering PPE in previous pandemics and deep knowledge of the logistics required
to serve healthcare providers in all sites of care.
I appreciate your consideration of this recommendation and look forward to continued
collaboration in dealing with this national emergency. I can be reached at rowan@hida.org or
(703) 838-6118 for any follow up.
Sincerely,

Matthew J. Rowan
President and CEO