NCL urges FDA and consumers to take action as GLP-1 shortage ends, but “infodemic” continues

/in , , , /by

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, (202)-207-2829

May 22 Conclusion of Mass Compounded GLP-1s Should Bring Clarity but Confusion Reigns

Washington, DC — Despite the end of the GLP-1 shortage and May 22 FDA-issued deadline for companies to stop mass compounding of the products, the National Consumers League (NCL) is concerned that the epidemic of GLP-1 misinformation will continue to confuse consumers with fake products that can put their health at risk. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and consumers have roles to play in responding to the “infodemic.”

According to the FDA, as of today, companies should no longer mass-produce compounded GLP-1s. If they do, they will be in violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act and may be subject to penalties, recalls, and other sanctions. While NCL understands the role of compounded drugs as customized medications created by pharmacists or physicians in individualized cases that combine, mix, or alter ingredients to meet a specific patient’s needs, like a swallowing disorder, they are not appropriate for mass production and distribution. They also pose more potential risks to patients.

Because compounded drugs do not have the guardrails, nor have they been tested in large populations, there are risks associated with them, and they therefore should never be produced on a mass marketing basis except in very limited situations where the FDA has declared a shortage of drugs in high demand. That was the case with shortages of GLP1 drugs from 2022 to several months ago, to meet the high demand.

The May 22 deadline should provide clarity for consumers who need GLP-1 medications. After this date, only products that are “FDA-approved” or have been through the FDA process and are proven safe and effective in large populations and prescribed by a medical professional should be on the market. We must ensure compounders abide by the FDA’s rules. However, NCL is concerned that the marketing of compounded and other nonlegal weight loss products will continue beyond the deadline and continue to confuse consumers and patients who are managing chronic diseases like obesity.

Our concerns are not unfounded: We recently released a national survey of perceptions of compounded GLP-1 products sold online, showing that there is significant confusion about GLP-1 products amongst women. Key findings include that more than 70% believe compounded GLP-1s are only on the market if they have been tested and proven safe, and more than half (53%) think compounded GLP-1s have received FDA-approval. Neither of these claims is true.

For the sake of consumers across the country, we urge the FDA to enforce federal law and its long-standing safety-guided standards for compounded products now that GLP-1 products are no longer in shortage. We also call on consumers to take the following steps to learn the facts about GLP-1s and understand what’s FDA-approved, what’s fake, and what might put their health at risk:

  1. If a product says, “Doctor Approved,” and not “FDA-Approved,” it is likely a compounded versions of GLP-1s that are not permitted after May 22: if you see them, it’s a red flag.
  2. Educate yourself by going to The Weight Truth website (https://nclnet.org/weight-truth/),
  3. Be aware that FDA-approved GLP-1s are not available in gummy, chewable, patch, nasal, or sublingual forms.
  4. Ask the healthcare provider or company selling you the GLP-1 if it’s the FDA-approved brand product. You can also reach out to the FDA-approved manufacturers to determine whether you have authentic medicine.
  5. Report fake GLP-1s to us through The Weight Truth website (https://nclnet.org/weight-truth/

In addition to raising awareness amongst consumers about the misinformation surrounding compounded GLP-1s, NCL is also reiterating its appeal to Congress to pass the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), a critical piece of legislation that will allow more older Americans to be treated with FDA-approved anti-obesity medications under the Medicare program.

###

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. 

National Survey Shows a Vast Majority of Americans Want Comprehensive Reform of the 340B Drug Pricing Program

/in , /by

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829  

National Poll Demonstrates Strong Support for Policies That Ensure Qualifying Patients Benefit Directly From 340B Drug Discounts, Hold 340B Hospitals & Covered Entities Accountable

Washington, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) released results from a new Morning Consult national poll of more than 10,000 American adults, revealing overwhelming concern about the burden of medical debt and strong public demand for comprehensive reforms of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Nearly four in five surveyed adults (78%) support establishing requirements to ensure that qualifying patients directly benefit from 340B drug discounts through reduced out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. More than three in four surveyed adults (77%) believe hospitals should be required to pass 340B savings directly onto patients.

The national poll also found that:

  • 54% of surveyed adults currently have or previously had medical debt, with those in rural areas and the South disproportionately affected. Among adults who have experienced medical debt, more than half (54%) reported skipping additional needed medical care due to cost.
  • Three in four surveyed adults (76%) expressed concern that hospitals benefiting from 340B drug discounts often pursue aggressive debt collection practices against patients.
  • A majority of polled adults strongly supported proposed reforms of the 340B program, including policies to ensure qualifying patients benefit directly from 340B through reduced out-of-pocket costs, allow audits on how hospitals and pharmacies are using the 340B program, and add a requirement that 340B hospitals share a portion of the savings they generate with qualifying 340B patients.

“The 340B program is supposed to help vulnerable patients access and afford life-saving medicines and care, but the evidence shows some hospitals, the pharmacies they contract with, and middlemen are abusing 340B for profit at the expense of low-income and uninsured patients,” said National Consumers League (NCL) CEO Sally Greenberg, JD. “Americans have said loud and clear: They want a 340B program that puts patients first, not profits. Congress must act now to institute comprehensive reforms that restore integrity and accountability to 340B before more patients are left behind.”

The 340B Drug Pricing Program allows hospitals and other covered healthcare entities to access medications at discounted prices from manufacturers with the intent that they pass savings onto patients. However, over time, some hospitals, the pharmacies they contract with, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have manipulated the program into a major profit-generating enterprise. In many cases, 340B hospitals charge patients full price for discounted drugs, keep the difference as profit, provide minimal levels of charity care, and pursue aggressive debt collection practices against the very patients the program was meant to protect.

This April, Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), the Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a report detailing finds from a multi-year investigation of how covered entities abuse the 340B program. In the report, Sen. Cassidy outlined reforms meant to bring greater transparency to the 340B program, including requiring annual reporting on how 340B revenue is used to ensure direct savings for patients and providing clear guidelines to ensure that drug discounts actually benefit 340B-eligible patients.

By the Numbers: 340B Program Abuses Harm American Patients

  • Massive Price Markups. Medicine price markups are 6.6 times higher at 340B hospitals than at independent clinics, and research shows participation in 340B does not improve health outcomes for uninsured and low-income patients.
  • Declining Charity Care. 340B has grown exponentially to become the second largest federal prescription drug program after Medicare Part D. However, only $1 is invested in charity care for every $10 in profit collected by profitable 340B hospitals.
  • Lack of Transparency. Discounted purchases under 340B totaled a massive $66.3 billion in 2023. However, hospitals are not required to disclose their 340B profits or even whether their revenue is used to lower patient costs.

To learn more about the 340B Drug Pricing Program and the need for federal reforms of the program, visit: https://nclnet.org/340b-program/.

###  

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 applauds Senator Cassidy’s effort to shine light on 340B program oversight and accountability

/in , /by

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829  

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) applauds Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, for releasing a new report exposing significant accountability gaps in the federal 340B drug discount program.    

“The 340B program was designed to help vulnerable patients afford life-saving medications—not to boost the bottom lines of large health systems or third-party contractors,” said Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League. “Senator Cassidy’s report rightly calls for greater accountability, transparency, and reform. We urge Congress to act quickly so this critical program delivers on its promise to help the patients who need it most.”  

The report raises serious concerns about how hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies use 340B revenue—often with little transparency or direct benefit to low-income and uninsured patients. Key findings include:  

  • Large hospital systems report hundreds of millions in 340B revenue used for vague purposes like “capital improvements,” with no clear patient benefit.  
  • Federally Qualified Health Centers show inconsistent practices in delivering discounts to patients, despite a significant 340B income.  
  • Pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens impose rising fees on providers, making it harder to serve vulnerable patients.  
  • Drug manufacturers report misuse of discounts, including diversion to ineligible patients and duplicate discounts.  

Senator Cassidy proposes reforms to increase oversight, require annual reporting on 340B revenue use, and ensure patients—not intermediaries—benefit from the program.  

###  

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.   

America’s second obesity crisis is an infodemic of disinformation about GLP-1 weight loss drugs

/in , , /by

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829

The National Consumers League Launches a New Mobilization, “The Weight Truth,” to Combat the Infodemic of Disinformation Surrounding GLP-1 Drugs; New White Paper Identifies Nine Priorities for Action

Washington, DC – With mounting evidence that an infodemic of disinformation about GLP-1 weight loss medicines has become America’s second obesity crisis, the National Consumers League (NCL) – a leading non-profit fighting fraud in the marketplace – today released a white paper as a blueprint for policy changes to combat the flood of false information circulating online about GLP-1 products and launched an ambitious national anti-disinformation effort called the Weight Truth with the online hub, www.weight-truth.org, to drive action.

“Despite the promise of GLP-1 drugs to help Americans with obesity achieve a significant weight loss and improve their health status, an escalating ‘infodemic’ of disinformation online is causing consumers to opt for ‘cheap, easy and doctor approved’ products that may cause harm or could be fakes, “said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s CEO. “Infodemics are dangerous, which is why NCL is raising awareness of this serious health hazard and calling for a national mobilization to arm people with the facts about GLP-1s and to protect the public through legal and regulatory efforts.”

Disinformation Is Rampant
Coinciding with the end of a national shortage of branded GLP-1 medicines and the withdrawal of compounded versions from the market, the Weight Truth will help the public decode misinformation about these weight loss medicines at a time when researchers warn of an “alarming” amount of disinformation online that is sowing distrust in health institutions and encouraging consumers to opt for products promoted as “doctor approved” that FDA warns “can be risky for patients.” Consumers are also subjected to a flood of false claims about supposed new forms of GLP-1s, such as patches, shakes, gummies, drops, and versions with untested additives, without evidence that these products even work. Documenting the reach of this false information, one recent study estimated a 1200 percent increase in “violative or problematic” GLP-1-related ads between 2022 and 2024 (the time when FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs were in shortage).

New Poll Reveals the Consequences of Disinformation
Yet, the most persuasive data comes from a new NCL-commissioned survey of 1,500 women ages 18-55 fielded by Dynata, LLC in March 2025, which finds that 85 percent of women with obesity believe the false claims made in online ads. When respondents were shown a fictional ad for a compounded GLP-1 drug and were asked what the term “doctor approved” meant to them, 55 percent said the drug was “endorsed by medical professionals,” and 31 percent said the drug was “safe to use.” Reinforcing these viewpoints, 71 percent of the women polled said they believe compounded GLP-1s are only on the market if they were tested and proven safe, and more than half (53 percent) think these medications received FDA approval. Additionally, 49 percent think compounded versions have the same active ingredients, and 41 percent say the doses are the same as the branded drug. None of these perceptions are accurate.

“The Weight Truth is an essential tool that will help thousands of consumers navigate a weight loss market rife with bad actors promoting non-FDA-approved GLP-1s. People living with obesity deserve accurate information and access to safe, affordable, and effective care that allows them to succeed during their treatment journey,” said Dr. Angela Fitch, past president of the Obesity Medicine Association and Chief Medical Officer of knownwell.

Disinformation Is Dangerous and Leads to Serious Health Consequences
Underscoring why these findings of the new survey matter, NCL’s white paper – Compounding, Counterfeits, and Confusion: Confronting the Infodemic of Disinformation on Obesity Treatments – documents what happens when disinformation causes consumers to opt for medicines that the FDA does not review for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed. Regarding compounded GLP-1 drugs, patient safety advocates point to exemptions from standard product labeling requirements, which leave consumers without information on side effects, contraindications, and possible adverse effects and opens the door for marketers to tout the benefits of compounded GLP-1s without disclosing the risks. Moreover, the FDA warns that not undergoing a pre-market review increases the potential that drugs will have quality issues, such as contamination, sub- or super-potency, or incorrect dosing. Beyond compounded GLP-1s, patient safety advocates and state attorneys general point to drug counterfeiters and bad actors who put consumers at risk for harm from exposure to contaminated ingredients, undisclosed chemical agents, and dosing errors by illegally selling the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in GLP-1s directly to consumers online with dosing instructions.

“Disinformation about GLP-1 medications puts patient safety at risk, and The Weight Truth initiative is urgently needed to fight back. Every person affected by obesity deserves access to trustworthy, evidence-based information about their care options,” says Joe Nadglowski, President and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). “No one should be forced to navigate a sea of confusing or misleading claims that jeopardize their health and well-being.”

Documenting the potential health consequences from dosing errors and exposure to the wrong ingredients,
 FDA has received over 775 adverse event reports as of February 28, 2025, which includes reports of 17 deaths and over 100 hospitalizations. Moreover, poison control centers report nearly a 1,500 percent increase in calls since 2019 related to overdosing or side effects of injectable GLP-1 usage. Importantly, because most compounding pharmacies are not required to report adverse events from compounding drugs, the FDA indicates it is “likely that adverse events from compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs are underreported.

A Blueprint for National Actions
Because infodemics are dangerous, NCL’s white paper calls for collective action to combat the epidemic of false and misleading claims about GLP-1 weight loss drugs and policy changes to protect consumers during national drug shortages where there is a large mass market for these drugs. Toward this end, NCL’s blueprint identifies nine
priorities for action:

  1. Make Combating Infodemics a National Priority
    The growing threat of misinformation requires a unified national response, and NCL’s anti-disinformation initiative, the Weight Truth, can be the model for educating consumers and being a platform for clinicians, advocates, and policymakers to advance policy changes to protect consumers.
  2. Increase Coverage and Affordability of FDA-Approved GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs
    Because increasing coverage of FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs is the best way to put a damper on an exploitative market for these products, the National Consumers League and many advocates are working to secure coverage through Medicare and state Medicaid programs and private insurers in order to help reduce patients’ out-of-pocket costs.
  3. Enforce Existing Drug Advertising Rules
    During the national shortage of GLP-1 drugs, online advertising proved effective in convincing consumers that compounded versions were essentially generic versions of branded drugs. Thus, the FDA can help stem the infodemic by monitoring content online and enforcing existing prescription drug advertising regulations.
  4. Explore a New Role for the Federal Trade Commission
    The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a strong regulatory framework to address deceptive marketing and ensure that advertising claims are truthful and substantiated, including health claims. Since FTC is taking aim at food companies that are developing “GLP-1 friendly” products, there is an opening for the FTC to take enforcement actions against companies that make false or misleading claims about GLP-1 drugs and to assert that supplements, gummies, patches, and related products are not forms of GLP-1s.
  5. Increase Pharmacovigilance of Online Pharmacy Websites
    During the national shortage of GLP-1 drugs, illegal online pharmacies were actively selling semaglutide without
    a prescription and shipping unregistered and falsified products. These pharmacies pose a major threat and should be a focus for enforcement efforts by the FDA and state boards of pharmacy.
  6. Intensify Federal and State Efforts to Protect Consumers from Counterfeiters

Counterfeit products are entering the U.S. supply chain. As identified by the FDA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and many state Attorneys General, key areas for enforcement are sellers using online app-based platforms to supply consumers with GLP-1 products containing insulin or “animal grade” ingredients and illegally selling the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in GLP-1s directly to consumers.

  1. Implement Labeling Rules for Compounders
    Not having labeling information on side effects, contraindications, and possible adverse events leads patients to underestimate the risks of compounded drugs and potential dosing errors. Given the millions of consumers who may take compounded drugs if/when there is another large and prolonged national drug shortage, the same labeling rules should apply to both branded and compounded copycat drugs during a shortage.
  2. Require Compounders to Submit Adverse Reactions Reports to FDA

Adverse event reports are often the way the FDA learns of safety issues with compounded drugs, which is why the agency should have accurate information on safety issues during a national drug shortage.

  1. Require Compounders to Disclose Information on the Composition and Distribution of Compounded Drugs

Currently, compounders are not required to disclose the source of their Active Product Ingredient (API), the main ingredient in making compounded GLP-1s, nor report the number of doses sold. Having access to this information during a national shortage will improve surveillance efforts and build trust in the integrity of compounded products.

“Everyone requires accurate information to make health care decisions that are best for ourselves and our families, and we rely on regulators to protect us from misleading claims about medical products,” said Michael C. Barnes, Counsel to Aimed Alliance. “The FDA, state boards of pharmacy, and state attorneys general can and should take enforcement action against suppliers of unapproved drugs and deceptive advertisers. Aimed Alliance supports NCL and federal and state health and safety officials’ efforts to protect consumers in the health care marketplace.”

About the Weight Truth Initiative

To combat false information circulating online about GLP-1 products, NCL commissioned new opinion research and consulted with leading obesity specialists, disinformation authorities, law enforcement officials, and regulatory experts to assess the infodemic, understand how the unregulated marketplace for GLP-1s operates, and determine what can be done to protect the public through education and policy change. Based on this assessment, NCL developed the Weigh Truth initiative, including an online hub – www.weight-truth.org – to arm people with the facts about GLP-1s and advance policies to prevent exploitative markets from operating during national drug shortages when there is a large mass market for compounded drugs.

###

About 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.

Trump budget proposal would dismantle core health programs          

/in , , , /by

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829       

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is raising serious concerns about the Trump administration’s proposal to cut the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget by more than 30%. This drastic move would gut essential public health protections, weaken food safety, and threaten scientific progress.    

“This budget is not a strategic approach to the reorganization of HHS; it is a slash-and-burn mentality for programs that everyday Americans rely on,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “Gutting vital agencies and drastically reducing funding for health care, research, and food safety will put millions of lives in danger—especially the most vulnerable. Especially following a mass layoff, these cuts appear extremely alarming and leave the functionality of programs like HRSA, CDC, FDA, and NIH up in the air.”         

Key proposed cuts include:   

  • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Proposed cuts would eliminate this agency, which supports Medicare, Medicaid, and vital rural and community health programs, leaving millions without essential healthcare.   
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): A 40% budget reduction, from $47 billion to $27 billion, threatens crucial research on diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s, while new funding caps could hinder innovation at universities and research centers.   
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Budget cuts would slash the CDC’s funding from $9.2 billion to $5.2 billion, eliminating domestic HIV prevention, chronic disease programs, and research on obesity and heart disease.   
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Shifting food safety oversight to state agencies without adequate resources could increase foodborne illness risks and erode public trust in food safety.   
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): The proposed budget would not only shift the remaining Administration of Community Living programs under CMS but would also move the Office of Pharmacy Affairs from HRSA, allowing CMS to regulate the 340B drug pricing program. 

The budget proposal comes in the wake of ongoing changes at HHS, including the recent dismissal of 10,000 employees. It comes as part of a larger effort to redefine the federal government’s role in healthcare and social services.      

###      

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 urges ACIP to expand RSV vaccine recommendations at April 2025 meeting

/in , , , /by

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC — This week, the National Consumers League this week strongly recommended expanding respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for high-risk adults 50-59 years old to protect against a condition that can become severe for infants and older adults. NCL was selected to make remarks before the critically important Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ( ACIP)  Additionally, NCL encouraged the Committee to continue its work in support of increasing vaccine confidence and transparency for the public.  On April 11, 2025, the National Consumers League submitted comments in response to a request for comments at the April 15 and 16 in Atlanta, Georgia.

ACIP also discussed the COVID-19, flu, RSV, and meningococcal vaccines. At the meeting, additional discussion and updates were provided on the ongoing and growing measles outbreaks and cases across the nation. The Committee voted on recommendations for three vaccines, including RSV.

Samantha Sears, NCL’s Health Policy Associate, told the ACIP committee to expand access to RSV and other vaccines and advised that a middle ground, called shared clinical decision-making, has proven too often to result in patients not choosing to get vaccinated, which runs counter to NCL’s support for broader vaccine adoption given the vast data to support the overwhelming safety and efficacy of vaccines in preventing infection disease.

Originally, ACIP was scheduled to meet in February, but the meeting was indefinitely postponed after the confirmation of the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. NCL is pleased that the Secretary rescheduled this meeting and hopes that the remaining two meetings of ACIP in 2025 will continue as scheduled.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), comprising fifteen medical and public health experts, is charged with advising the CDC Director on the use of vaccines and the immunization schedules for adults and children. ACIP meets regularly to review data, studies, and proposals for vaccines and, as needed, for emergency cases. Meetings are open to the public and, since COVID, streamed online. The recordings of the livestream of the April 15 and April 16 meetings are available online.

### 

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. 

Mass layoffs at HHS: A blow to healthcare access and public health

/in , /by

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829   

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is deeply concerned by the Trump administration’s decision to lay off an additional 10,000 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) following the already eliminated 10,000 jobs via previous rounds of cuts. In total, the restructuring and force reduction plans will result in a downsizing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees nationwide.    

The impact of these cuts and restructuring is particularly concerning for agencies like the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These agencies are crucial to the functioning of vital public health and safety programs, including the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows hospitals, community health centers, and other providers to purchase prescription medications at discounted prices. This ensures that low-income and underserved communities can afford the medications they need.    

“In the wake of a nationwide measles outbreak, this is a reckless decision by the Trump administration,” said Samatha Sears, NCL Health Policy Associate. “HHS leadership should be prioritized on bolstering public health and delving into medical research for vaccines and medications, not firing thousands of staff and jeopardizing agencies like HRSA and NIOSH. Downsizing this department under our current circumstances is irresponsible and dangerous to the American people.”     

The NCL calls on the administration to reconsider these workforce reductions to ensure that essential health services are not disrupted and that vulnerable communities continue to have access to the care they need.   

###  

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 sounds alarm over measles outbreak, calls for stronger immunization leadership

/in , , /by
Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829
Washington, DC — As of this week, there are a total of 223 cases of measles in western Texas, and it is spreading to neighboring counties in New Mexico and Oklahoma. Yet, recently confirmed Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy is not actively pushing for Americans to get immunized. The National Consumers League (NCL) stands firmly on the side of science and evidence-based medicine.  In February, we expressed concern over his appointment, and now we are witnessing the significant risk to Americans’ health and well-being we previously stated.
“This spread of an extremely contagious virus should be a wakeup call to the American people and a stark reminder of the importance of immunization,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL CEO. “Decades ago, we saw a similar situation turn, polio, turn into an epidemic causing major disabilities and death to millions of Americans. We cannot go back. As a nation, our leaders and lawmakers should lead with facts, scientific data, and a commitment to public well-being.”
###
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.

Trump administration shortens ACA enrollment, threatening healthcare for millions of consumers

/in , , /by

 Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829      

Washington, DC – Millions of Americans would be affected by the Trump administration’s attempts to shorten the Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period and eliminate the monthly enrollment option for low-income families.   

By shortening the open enrollment window from 12 weeks to just 30 days, the proposal issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would inevitably result in eligible individuals failing to enroll in coverage. The drastic reduction in time creates unnecessary barriers to enrollment for consumers, particularly those who need time to research their options, gather necessary documentation, contact brokers, or navigate the enrollment process. This is a direct attack on consumers’ access to healthcare, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including low-income families, the elderly, and those with limited internet access or health literacy.  

In Trump’s first term, the administration cut outreach and public education funding and allowed short-term plans that offer subpar coverage, leading to a significant drop in ACA enrollment. This latest attempt will create further confusion and chaos for consumers seeking affordable healthcare options.     

Additionally, the CMS proposal to deny ACA coverage to immigrant “Dreamers”—young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children—raises further concerns. These individuals are hardworking, tax-paying contributors to the U.S. economy and should not be excluded from accessing healthcare plans. CMS also proposed limiting coverage for gender-affirming care starting in 2026.    

“This is a cruel and calculated attempt to roll back the ACA, undermine consumers, and restrict access to healthcare for millions,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL CEO. “By shortening the enrollment period, the administration is making it harder for hardworking Americans to find the coverage they need. Denying Dreamers access to health care is unjust, shortsighted, and could put in danger the broader community. We are disappointed by this proposal as Mr. Trump has pledged not to harm Dreamers.”   

In December of 2024 President Trump discussed Dreamers during a “Meet the Press” interview: “We have to do something about the Dreamers because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age,’ If Dreamers have the right to stay in this country, as Mr. Trump says they should, it is essential they have the same health care options available as all other Americans.

###      

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 signs on to PBM Accountability Project letter advocating for transparency and cost savings in prescription drug pricing  

/in , , /by

Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is proud to announce its support for the PBM Accountability Project’s letter, which has been shared with the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee ahead of their hearing on February 26, 2025. The PBM Accountability Project calls for urgent reform of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) industry to increase transparency, reduce prescription drug costs, and provide relief to consumers and patients across the nation.    

The National Consumers League has growing concerns about the anti-competitive, anti-consumer, and anti-patient practices of the largest PBMs, which have created an opaque system that inflates prescription drug prices. NCL stands firm with the signatories in urging the subcommittee to advance bipartisan legislation that addresses these harmful practices and restores fairness to the prescription drug marketplace.     

“Consumers deserve transparency and affordability in healthcare,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “PBMs have been driving up costs for everyday Americans and their families, often without consumers realizing the true price of their medications. NCL’s commitment to consumer protection means advocating for policies that rein in the practices of these middlemen and prioritize patients over corporate profits. We must act now to bring down drug prices and ensure every American has access to affordable medications.”   

Consumers need immediate action to curb the influence of PBMs, whose practices have been detrimental to both patients and community pharmacies. Key bipartisan reforms highlighted in the letter include measures such as delinking drug prices from PBM revenues, implementing fair pharmacy contract terms, and ensuring rebates are passed directly to patients. These reforms are essential to lowering drug costs and increasing access to vital medications.   

###     

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.