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 Statement at FDA Advisory Committee Meeting on Tecentriq for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

April 27, 2021: A new randomized controlled trial that includes more Black women is needed to evaluate Tecentriq for Triple Negative Breast Cancer in order to keep FDA approval. The FDA doesn’t do patients any favors by continuing to approve a treatment that isn’t shown to help and may actually harm them.

NCHR’s Comments to AHRQ on Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

We have identified a number of shortcomings of the report on breast reconstruction after mastectomy, which we urge AHRQ to address before the report is finalized.

NCHR’s Testimony at FDA Regarding Donislecel Treatments for Diabetes

April 15, 2021: We agree with the concerns of the FDA reviewers regarding the benefit-risk profile of donislecel transplant treatments.

NCHR’s Comments on USPSTF’s Draft Recommendation for Diabetes Screening

While we agree that diabetes screening is an important tool, the USPSTF recommendation appears to be not fully rooted in data.

NCHR’s Testimony to NASEM Town Hall on PFAS Testing

We urge testing for blood levels of PFAS among those exposed at work, among communities exposed through groundwater, athletes and children who play on artificial turf and playground equipment, pregnant and lactating women, or others exposed to contaminants.