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 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.

Patient, Consumer and Public Health Coalition Comments to FDA on Ensuring Access to Adequate Information on Medical Products

September 9, 2013. We are writing to express our strong support for the FDA’s efforts to improve how it communicates information on medical products to all Americans, and especially underrepresented subpopulations.

NCHR Testimony on Computed Tomography Colonography

September 9, 2013. We agree with the Task Force that at this point, there is no reason to recommend virtual colonoscopies for most patients who need screening. We would add, however, that if specific patients are unwilling to undergo regular colonoscopies, then a virtual colonoscopy is a reasonable alternative.