Can some specialty products only be purchased from the manufacturer?

• A. No, all specialty products are available from wholesalers
• B. Yes, some specialty products may only be purchased from the manufacturer
• C. Only if the product is out of stock nationwide
• D. Yes, to certain healthcare providers you can only buy via manufacturer direct

Answer: (D)

Some specialty products are restricted to direct sales from the manufacturer to certain healthcare providers. Manufacturers may set exclusive distribution arrangements or require direct purchasing to ensure proper handling, training, installation, service, and pricing controls. Because of these arrangements, those items can only be bought through the manufacturer’s direct channel by the approved providers, even if other products in the market are available through wholesalers. This is why the statement about purchasing via manufacturer direct to specific providers best captures how these specialty items are sold.