We’re Speaking Out on Health Issues

NCHR scientists and health policy experts provide written and oral statements on a wide range of topics.

Here are many of the ways we have been Speaking Out on Health Policy Issues for the last few years. Whether the topic is legislation intended to cure diseases, proposed bans on BPA or other chemicals that disrupt your hormones, the importance of including women, people of color, and patients over 65 in clinical trials, or many other topics, you’ll gain a better understanding of our evidence-based analyses by reading these letters, statements, and testimony.

Here are the ways we have been Speaking out on Medical Treatments and Products, such as prescription drugs and medical devices that the FDA is considering approving, or is considering taking off the market because of serious risks. Whether the topic is Chantix, Addyi, Yaz, Essure, or medical products you’ve never heard of, you can find out more about what is known and not known about the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of products by looking through this section of our website.

NCHR Testimony on Classification of Stair-climbing and Mechanical Wheelchairs

December 12, 2013. Stair-climbing wheelchairs are have been considered high risk – Class III – and have been required to submit studies of safety and effectiveness under the PMA review process. The proposed order would reclassify stair-climbing wheelchairs into Class II indicating moderate risk, and reviewing it through the 510(k) process.

NCHR Testimony on Classification of Spinal Sphere Devices

December 12, 2013. For classification of spinal sphere devices, we support FDA in considering a Class III designation for these devices.

Letter in Support of the Whistleblower Protection Act

November 19, 2013. As members of the public health community, we write to urge you to support the Warner-Collins-Kaine-Grassley amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2014 (NDAA, S. 1197).

NCHR Testimony on Premarket Approval of Nucleus Hybrid L24 System Cochlear Implants

November 8, 2013. Medical devices should not be approved on the basis of wishful thinking.

Comments on the NIH Office of Disease Prevention Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2014-2018

November 22, 2013. While improvement in public health measures can be more challenging to assess, and requires a longer time period to evaluate, the goal of prevention research should be focused on measurable health outcomes, and not simply on the number of grants or scientific publications. A more explicit identification and prioritization of research goals would increase confidence that meaningful public health results will be achieved where they are most urgently needed.