Rx Response partners include the private organizations and trade associations that make up the biopharmaceutical supply system. However, protecting the biopharmaceutical supply system requires collaboration and coordination with the federal, state, and local agencies responsible for responding to an event.

The state Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs) and Departments of Health (DOHs) have key insight into an event’s impact on local jurisdictions, as well as knowledge on their state’s specific and unique laws and regulations, all of which affect the private sector’s response capabilities, limitations and needs.

To aid in information-sharing, Rx Response encourages all state EMAs and public health officials to register personnel for Rx Response’s InfoCenter, an online forum that enables information-sharing and problem-solving capabilities between all response partners. In events where Rx Response monitors or engages to respond to an event, all relevant, registered state representatives receive situation reports from Rx Response detailing the event’s impact on the biopharmaceutical supply system.

Rx Response also spends significant time and effort reaching out to each of the 50 state EMAs and DOHs to provide education on Rx Response’s mission and resources. In addition, Rx Response has conducted joint exercises with a few select EMAs and DOHs to better understand how interactions and information sharing will occur during a major disaster or incident.

Based on these interactions, Rx Response has developed a document titled “Rx Response Integration with State Emergency Management” that is designed as a quick-reference overview of the program, with an annex that can be added to State Emergency Response plans that captures methods of interaction with Rx Response during an event. State EMA and DOH directors are encouraged to set up a meeting with Rx Response to discuss how both agencies can work with Rx Response before and during an event.