August 31, 2022: NCHR supports the efforts to improve research in the ODS proposed strategic plan but recommends several revisions, primarily focusing on the “Addressing Health Disparities and Advancing Health Equity”.
Read More »On Health Policy
Diana Zuckerman Statement on the Role of FDA in Health Inequities Meeting of the National Academy of Medicine
July 26, 2022: The National Center for Health Research testified before a meeting of the National Academy of Medicine in July 2022 regarding federal policies that could improve health equity and decrease racial and ethnic disparities. There are many reasons for health inequities, but we focused on federal laws regarding diversity in clinical trials. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requires research studies to include people representing diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. NIH, CDC, SAMHSA and other federal health agencies make an effort to abide by this law. The one exception among federal public health agencies is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which encourages but does not require diversity in clinical trials. The agency’s justification is American taxpayers don’t pay for the studies – the companies that make the products pay for the studies. However, taxpayers pay for FDA staff that regulate these products, and taxpayers also pay for the products themselves.
Read More »NCHR Letter to Senate Finance Committee on Telehealth Legislation
August 22, 2022: We urge you to act quickly to introduce and advance your telehealth legislation building on the strengths of H.R. 4040. We strongly urge that your legislation increase coverage and access to telehealth for the Medicare population, while continuing to address the underlying barriers faced by rural and underserved communities.
Read More »NCHR Comments on Broadening Coverage for Cochlear Implants
August 4, 2022. We agree that cochlear implants have been shown to improve sentence recognition, thus helping affected adults communicate better and reducing feelings of isolation. However, there are several issues that we strongly urge CMS to consider before deciding whether to broaden the national coverage.
Read More »NCHR Letter to Democratic Congressional Leadership on Drug Pricing Reform
July 26, 2022: We write to urge you to quickly pass a budget reconciliation bill that includes meaningful drug pricing reforms. The provisions included in the reconciliation bill to combat high drug prices are a step in the right direction and we applaud all of your hard work. There is still much to be done to lower the launch prices of new drugs, promote pricing that accurately reflects the value of a prescription, and to instill competition into a highly controlled drug market.
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