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 to District of Columbia Committee on Government Operations and the Environment on Bisphenol A and Phthalates

January 20, 2010. We think of plastic as being solid, but BPA leaches out of plastic and epoxy linings into liquids and foods.

Letter to U.S. Senator Harry Reid (Majority Leader) Requesting He Introduce or Cosponsor Legislation to Remove the HPV vaccine From the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Requirements

December 4, 2009. I am writing to inform you of an outrageous new requirement by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for women applying for visas to enter the United States or adjustment of resident status.

Letter to U.S. Senator Harry Reid (Majority Leader) Urging Him to Keep Strong Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Language in the Senate Health Care Reform Bill

December 1, 2009. Members of the Patient and Consumer Coalition strongly urge you to keep strong comparative effectiveness research (CER) language in the Senate health care reform bill.

NCHR Testimony at the FDA Public Hearing on Promotion of Medical Products via the Internet and Social Media

November 12, 2009. Those of us who are here know that our concerns are shared by many other public health, patient, and consumer organizations. However, most do not have the staff or resources to set aside two days of unscheduled time for a meeting, especially non-reimbursed time, and especially in the middle of the health care reform negotiations.

Letter to Dr. Margaret Hamburg, FDA Commissioner, Urging that Immediate Action Be Brought to Appropriately Regulate Tanning Devices

November 5, 2009. Members of the Patient and Consumer Coalition urge your immediate attention to appropriately regulate tanning devices. As you know, currently, tanning devices are Class I devices (the same as bandages), which is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) lowest risk device class and does not require comprehensive safety data.