Soumi Saha

Last week, I had the opportunity to join an outstanding panel of experts at the National Home Infusion Association annual meeting. What was clear throughout the conversation: we must ensure patients can access high‑quality care where they want it most — at home.

Honored to be the inaugural guest on Changes, the new @ChiefHealthExec series on the forces reshaping healthcare. We dug into the pace of policy + market shifts, what it means for health systems, and why evidence‑based, patient‑centered advocacy matters. 📽️Video - bit.ly/40jAcn2 🎙️Podcast - bit.ly/3OR2y5x

💥@PremierHA is urging @CMSgov to fine‑tune key #MedicareAdvantage & Part D policies. From protecting Star Ratings transparency and chronic disease care to safeguarding appeals accountability, LTC pharmacy access, MLR oversight, and SNP care coordination — we’re pushing for smart, targeted reforms that strengthen Medicare and put beneficiaries first. bit.ly/3YWqOVN

📝 @PremierHA urged Congress to act as @HouseCommerce @EnergyCommerce & @WaysandMeansGOP @WaysMeansCmte review health plan practices. Premier survey findings show high denial rates, costly appeals, and impacts on patient outcomes. Premier is calling for bipartisan reforms and passage of the Prompt & Fair Pay Act (H.R. 4559) to ensure timely, accurate claims. bit.ly/3YSELUH

🔐 Cybersecurity: The Missing Link in America’s Healthcare Supply Chain Thrilled to share my latest byline published in @ChiefHealthExec! Together with my colleagues from @PremierHA, we explore why cyberattacks have become one of the greatest threats to our healthcare supply chain impacting everything from ports and manufacturers to blood banks and medical devices. Key takeaways: ✅ Cybersecurity must be integrated by design, not as an afterthought. ✅ Federal standards and rulemaking are critical to enforce best practices. ✅ Public–private partnerships can strengthen resilience through trusted tech stacks. ✅ Continuous risk assessment is essential to stay ahead of evolving threats. ✅Protecting patient care and national security starts with building a secure, resilient supply chain. 🔗 Read the full article here: chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/cybersecu…

✨Fierce Healthcare presents the 2025 Women of Influence Soumi Saha, senior vice president of government affairs at @PremierHA, pushes advocacy into action, leading bold, patient-centered reform bit.ly/451ikA4

💉@PremierHA urges @DEAHQ to rethink opioid quotas—warning cuts to injectable meds like fentanyl & morphine could worsen shortages & harm patients. Quotas must balance preventing diversion and abuse of opioids with ensuring adequate supply for clinically appropriate care. Patient care must come first. Full comments: bit.ly/4pM9tuI

Without a single playbook for #AI, #healthcare can't benefit from transformational innovation. Federal preemption helps developers bring new solutions to market, but the next step is a unified regulatory framework that facilitates adoption and builds trust for #patients and providers. Read @PremierHA's full statement: tinyurl.com/rxfwp234

Proud to be recognized by @FierceHealth as a 2025 Women of Influence alongside so many incredibly fierce women!

Premier welcomes @CMSGov’s decision to drop the proposed 6.4% cut to home health payments for CY 2026. But even a ‑1.3% reduction will squeeze home health providers already battling soaring labor & inflation costs—putting patient care at risk. See @PremierHA’s full statement: bit.ly/4p9aA76

♨️ CMS Finalizes 2026 OPPS Payment Rule Finalized mostly as proposed: ◾ 2.6% payment update ◾ Eliminates the inpatient only list ◾ Implements site neutral payment policies for drug administration 🚫 Does NOT finalize proposals to accelerate recoupment of 340B dollars My statement on the final rule: premierinc.com/newsroom/polic…

📦 @PremierHA urged USTR to ensure #USMCA trade policies support healthcare supply chain resilience – advocating for transparency, near-shoring, digital traceability, and cross-border workforce collaboration to protect access to critical meds and devices. bit.ly/4hCqFzi

💉@PremierHA applauds FDA’s proposed biosimilar reforms - reforms that we long championed to cut costs & boost access. But without Congress, outdated rules & industry gamesmanship persist. It’s time to act decisively for patients. Read more: bit.ly/4oP1jAR

🛡️@PremierHA urged caution in the Section 232 probe on PPE & medical device imports: #Tariffs can build resilience—but if rushed, they risk driving up costs & shortages. We called for a targeted, phased approach that protects care while strengthening supply chains. bit.ly/46UxmJn

💊 The Drug Enforcement Administration Needs a Chief Pharmacy Officer. Here’s Why. I’m proud to share my latest piece in @Pharmacy_Times, where Justin Schneider and I make the case for why @DEAHQ needs a Chief Pharmacy Officer - and why the time to act is now. pharmacytimes.com/view/oped-the-… Pharmacists are uniquely positioned at the intersection of patient care, medication safety, and controlled substance stewardship. Yet, their voice is notably absent at the highest levels of decision-making within the DEA. In this op-ed, we outline how elevating pharmacy leadership within the agency can strengthen public health, mitigate drug shortages, improve regulatory clarity, and better address the opioid crisis. I’d love to hear your thoughts - especially from fellow pharmacy and policy leaders.

🧠 AI Hallucinations: Risk or Opportunity? Last month, I had the privilege of moderating a thought-provoking panel at the @medcitynews INVEST Digital Health Conference where we tackled one of the most pressing and misunderstood topics in healthcare innovation: #AI hallucinations. My favorite kind of panels are the ones that aren’t afraid to leave some questions unanswered. Our conversation has left me thinking about a few big ideas: ▪️ What is the future of AI governance – and is there a paradigm shift forthcoming where vendors start asking about health system AI governance strategy as part of deals? ▪️ In the absence of regulation, how will contracting evolve into a risk and liability battleground – and is there an equilibrium? ▪️ Are hallucinations an avoidable outcome or bad coding – or just LLM table stakes? A special thank you to my fellow lady power panelists for their candor and brilliance! 📽️ Watch the full panel here - lnkd.in/ersepfqm 🧾 Read a summary article here - lnkd.in/e95DHzVX

Had so much fun joining the @HCP_ReverseExpo for the Hospital Pharmacy Conference! Always appreciate an opportunity to get back to my pharmacist roots and focus discussions on how the landscape in Washington DC is impacting the future of pharmacy. #HCPFall25

“What if you already have an existing US manufacturing facility? Are you exempted because you already have a domestic footprint in play, or must you be expanding that capacity in some way,” said Soumi Saha, a pharmacist, lawyer and senior vice president of government affairs at the health care improvement company Premier Inc.   “And if you assume that anybody with a U.S. footprint is exempted, it then begs the question, how many branded manufacturers have no U.S. footprint whatsoever and is that the true impact?”

Chatted about pharmaceutical tariffs with @JosefChoi of @thehill: “Our position has always been that tariffs, when implemented in a targeted and thoughtful manner via a slow and steady glide path approach, can spur American ingenuity and help drive more resiliency in the supply chain, but when you implement them too fast and too furious, you do risk creating supply chain ripples, and that is the concern currently,” said Soumi Saha, SVP at @PremierHA thehill.com/newsletters/he…

Some quick gut reactions (not a formal statement): 1⃣ Thank you for recognizing that not all drugs are created equal and not tariffing generic drugs at this time 2⃣ October 1st implementation and 100% tariff seem aggressive 3⃣ Are manufacturers who already have a US-based facility exempt? If yes, how many branded pharmaceutical manufacturers don't already have at least one US-based facility? 4⃣ Does this mean that the 232 investigation on pharmaceuticals is complete and will be released shortly? 5⃣ Does this apply to the finished dose only, or active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients as well? Looking forward to additional details!