On Health Policy Archives

Coalition Letter to Senator Harry Reid Supporting Affordable Care Act and Opposing Repeal of Excise Tax on Medical Devices

September 25, 2013. As members of the Patient, Consumer, and Public Health Coalition, we strongly support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and oppose efforts to undermine this essential program that will benefit millions of Americans. In the upcoming negotiations over the budget and debt ceiling, we urge you to reject the repeal of the 2.3% excise tax on medical devices.

Letter to Senator Gillibrand in Support of the Military Justice Improvement Act

September 17, 2013. On behalf of the following nonprofit organizations from the Patient, Consumer, and Public Health coalition, we urge you to support Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) Military Justice Improvement Act (S. 967) when it is offered as an amendment to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act.

NCHR Testimony on Reclassification of External Pacemaker Pulse Generator Devices

September 11, 2013. We strongly oppose the reclassification of External Pacemaker Pulse Generator Devices from class III (high risk devices) to class II (moderate risk devices). We urge you to recommend that these devices should remain class III and they should require Premarket Approval Applications (PMAs) because they are life-sustaining devices and because clinical data are urgently needed to provide useful information to health professionals about the benefits and risks.

NCHR Testimony at FDA on Reclassification of External Cardiac Compressors

September 11, 2013. We strongly oppose the proposal to reclassify External Cardiac Compressors Class III devices to Class II (special controls).

Comments on Proposed Order on Reclassification of Stair-Climbing Wheelchairs

September 10, 2013. As members of nonprofit patient, consumer, and public health organizations, we oppose the FDA proposed order that will reclassify stair-climbing wheelchairs (a Class III device, indicating high risk) into Class II (moderate risk). This change in classification would result in greater risk for some of our nation’s most vulnerable consumers.