On May 9, 2022, the United States Food and Drug Administration added Omnipaque™ and Visipaque™ to their drug shortage list due to the shutdown of a GE Healthcare plant in Shanghai. Though the plant has since reopened, it is anticipated that there will be an approximately 80% reduction in supply through the end of June. This shortage has led to delays in non-emergent contrast-enhanced studies, as well as the use of alternative imaging studies where appropriate.

Carelon Guidelines address the use of alternative modalities for scenarios in which the preferred modality cannot performed. A Clinical Alert has been released regarding this contrast shortage, including discussion points regarding alternative studies. Please contact your Carelon client partnership team to receive the alert.