Millions would benefit as Biden Administration expands coverage for anti-obesity medications under Medicare and Medicaid

/in , , , , , /by

November 26, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Lisa McDonald, lisam@nclnet.org, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) applauds the action by President Joe Biden to allow millions of Americans on Medicare and Medicaid to have coverage for new and very effective anti-obesity medicines (AOMs), thereby removing one of the biggest obstacles impeding access to quality obesity care in the country.

At a time when obesity has become the nation’s most widespread chronic disease, it worsens the outcomes of more than 230 other chronic diseases, and is responsible for an estimated 400,000 premature deathsannually, the proposed rule issued by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has the potential to save lives and improve the health outcomes of 7.4 million Americans. This includes approximately four million adult Medicaid enrollees who would gain new access to anti-obesity medicines and an estimated 3.4 million Medicare beneficiaries whose treatment with AOMS would be covered, reducing their out-of-pocket costs by as much as 95 percent.

The cost of new anti-obesity medicines is an obvious concern to organizations like NCL, the public health community, and policymakers. However, CMS’s proposed expansion of Medicare and Medicaid coverage for a new class of injectable GPL-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor) agonists that can achieve a substantial weight loss (up to 20 percent) represents an important investment in the improved health of Americans.

“Today’s proposed action is a major step forward in ensuring that adults with obesity get the same quality care and access to treatments as those with the 230 chronic conditions where obesity is a significant factor,” says Nancy Glick, National Consumers League Director of Food and Nutrition Policy. “Today, only 10 percent of people with obesity get help from medical professionals, meaning the disease remains largely undiagnosed and undertreated. If CMS’s proposed rule is implemented, it will go a long way towards closing this obesity treatment gap, especially since health insurance companies closely align coverage decisions with Medicare policy.”

In January 2024, NCL worked with the National Council on Aging and leading obesity experts to issue the first Obesity Bill of Rights for the nation, which establishes eight essential rights so people with obesity will be screened, diagnosed, counseled, and treated according to medical guidelines. The Right to Coverage for Treatment is one of these essential rights and will become a reality for millions of Americans on Medicare and Medicaid if CMS’s proposal goes into effect.

###

About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Sally Greenberg: Fluoridated water is essential for public health, not a danger

/in , , , , , /by

Sally Greenberg: Fluoridated Water is Essential for Public Health, Not a Danger

Media contact: National Consumers League – Lisa McDonald, lisam@nclnet.org, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC— In response to recent media coverage about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo campaigning against water fluoridation, Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League (NCL), issued the following statement:

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s statements on fluoride could jeopardize a proven public health measure. Consumers are best served by reliable, evidence-based health information, not alarmist misinformation.”

The comments made by Kennedy and Ladapo echo similar claims from the 1960s, when groups like the John Birch Society suggested that fluoridation of drinking water was a “communist plot.” Today’s anti-fluoride activists point to a 2019 Canadian study that found that pregnant mothers exposed to higher fluoride levels during pregnancy, gave birth to baby boys with slightly lower IQ’s, as measured at ages 3-4. In this study, mothers were asked to self-recall beverage consumption per day and did not take into account the children’s fluoride exposure in early childhood.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls fluoridated drinking water one of the most successful public health interventions in U.S. history, with its origins dating back to 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since then, water fluoridation has been proven to significantly reduce rates of tooth decay, especially in economically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. The CDC estimates that fluoridated drinking water reduces tooth decay by approximately 25% in children and adults. Health authorities, including the American Dental Association and World Health Organization, affirm that fluoride is safe at the levels currently used in the U.S.

“Fluoridated water is a vital measure to protect public health and reduce health disparities in dental care,” says Greenberg. Recent examples of removing fluoride from water, such as Calgary, Canada (2011) and Juneau, Alaska (2007), resulted in an explosion of dental decay. In both cities, the absence of fluoride in the drinking water corresponded with an increase in cavities and dental surgeries, particularly among children. For more information, visit CDC’s resources on fluoride.

###

About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL welcomes CFPB final rule enabling supervision of payment apps

/in , , , , , , , /by

Media contact: National Consumers League – Lisa McDonald, lisam@nclnet.org, 202-207-2829

WASHINGTON, DC–Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized its larger participant rulemaking, allowing the Bureau to better ensure that payment app companies are complying with federal consumer protection law. As the use of payment apps has exploded over the past decade, CFPB oversight is critical to ensuring that consumers using these apps are receiving the full care and protections they are legally entitled to, including safeguards around payment errors, peer-to-peer fraud, and corporate surveillance.  

“As our financial system evolves, it’s important that regulators keep up. Director Chopra and CFPB staff have done invaluable work over the past three years to ensure that payment facilitators follow the law, even as the technology advances,” said NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault. “The final rule announced today will help better protect the millions of consumers who use digital wallets and payment apps every day.” 

Additional reading:

 ###

About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Nonprescription Analgesic/Antipyretic drug development in children 2 to less than 12 years of age

/in , , , /by

November 15, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Lisa McDonald, lisam@nclnet.org, 202-207-2829

WASHINGTON, DC – Sally Greenberg, NCL CEO testifies at the FDA about Nonprescription Analgesic/Antipyretic Drug Development in Children 2 to less than 12 Years of Age.

A full video of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration meeting can be found here:

Nonprescription Analgesic/Antipyretic Drug Development in Children 2 to less than 12 Years of Age

Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League, testifies at 1:32:24.

Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services threatens public health

/in , , , , , , , , /by

November 15, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Lisa McDonald, lisam@nclnet.org, 202-207-2829

WASHINGTON, DC– President-elect Trump’s decision to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a grave error, prioritizing conspiracy theories over evidence based science and medical research that is a foundation of our public health system.

The nomination is a staggering blow to the integrity of our nation’s healthcare delivery system. Kennedy, one of the loudest anti-vaccine voices during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been vocal about his theory that vaccines cause autism, a theory unsubstantiated by medical research. Vaccines are one of the most significant achievements in modern medicine, virtually eradicating childhood diseases such as smallpox and polio, saving millions of lives, and ensuring that our children grow up healthy and safe. The World Health Organization has repeatedly affirmed that vaccines are a cornerstone of public health, drastically reducing child mortality and preventing devastating diseases.

Parents across the nation, regardless of their political affiliations, share the same goal: to see their children grow up healthy and strong. By advancing vaccine skepticism, Mr. Kennedy jeopardizes not only children’s health but also public confidence in science, medicine, and the agencies tasked with protecting public safety—a foundation that has taken over a century to build.

If he is confirmed for the position, Mr. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer by training with no experience in the health or medical community, would oversee critical agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His anti-science stance raises serious concerns about his ability to lead a department responsible for infectious disease control, food and drug safety, Medicare and Medicaid policy, and life-saving medical research.

In addition, Mr. Kennedy has proposed drastic changes to the FDA, including loosening regulations on raw milk and eliminating the user fees that fund the oversight of drugs and medical devices. These fees are essential for ensuring timely reviews and approvals for medical devices and drugs. Eliminating them delay the availability of new medical innovations and treatments that serve public health.

This is not the first time that Trump has recommended an unqualified individual for Secretary of Health and Human Services. In 2016, President Trump selected Tom Price, whose tenure ended after just three months due to ethical issues and misuse of taxpayer funds.

The Department of Health and Humans Services deserves a leader committed to advancing science, protecting public health, and upholding the integrity of the nation’s healthcare systems. With this nomination, President-elect Trump is proposing putting the fox in the henhouse, essentially putting our public health under an unsuitable leader who would dismantle the very programs that protect our health and the nation’s food supply.

The National Consumers League calls on the U.S. Senate to reject this nomination. Furthermore, we urge President-elect Trump to withdraw this appointment and select a candidate who will champion science, uphold public trust, and protect the health of the nation.

iStock-1058285308_Family seating - Copy (1)

Consumer coalition supports DOT proposal to ban family seating fees, urges action on additional passenger protection issues

/in , , , , , , , , /by

November 8, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) and six other public interest organizations filed comments supporting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed rule to ban fees charged to families trying to secure seats next to their children. NCL has long urged DOT to act on this important safety issue and applauds Transportation Secretary Buttigieg for taking the necessary steps toward ending this unjustifiable practice. 

“We have a basic right to fly with our children and not pay a junk fee for doing so,” said NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault. “Parents should not have to choose between an affordable airline seat and their children’s safety. Congress and DOT both reached the right conclusion that ending the airlines’ unjustifiable tax on families is the right thing to do for the flying public.” 

NCL also commended DOT for raising questions regarding air carriers’ obsession with add-on fees generally, like charges for providing drinking water to passengers or printing a physical boarding pass. The availability of 24/7 live customer service and seating that meets Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety guidelines were also basic services that the consumer coalition urged DOT to require airlines to provide, fee-free. 

“No matter what type of ticket you bought, you should not have to worry if your airplane seat meets FAA safety guidance or if you can receive drinking water on a long flight,” said NCL Public Policy Manager Eden Iscil. “Offering affordable fares is great, but that does not justify skimping on basic consumer protections, especially when it comes to our health and safety. DOT is the only agency in the country with a mandate to regulate these issues. If it doesn’t step in, no one else will.” 

The full comments submitted by NCL, the American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America (CFA), FlyersRights, Travelers United, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) can be found here. 

Further reading: 

###

About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.