NCL Responds to FDA Action on Fluoride Supplements: Access Still in Question

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

Washington, DC – Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced actions to restrict the sale of unapproved ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for children. The agency has notified four companies of its intent to take enforcement action against those marketing unapproved fluoride-containing drugs labeled for use in children under age three or for older children at low or moderate risk for tooth decay.  

“Fluoride remains one of the most effective and affordable tools we have to protect children’s teeth,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “While we are relieved that this is not a ban on fluoride supplements, the FDA’s actions highlight an ongoing concern about access to safe and effective fluoride sources for children. Millions of families, especially those without access to fluoridated water, depend on fluoride supplements prescribed by their healthcare providers to prevent painful and costly cavities.  There is scant evidence that fluoride supplements harm children, as the FDA alleges. I myself took them when I was pregnant, and he took them as an infant, and millions of other children enjoy great dental health with no neurological effects.”  

“Preventing cavities is always better than treating them. Without prevention, families face unaffordable dental bills, and children face serious long-term health consequences,” Greenberg concluded. “It is imperative not to deprive children without access to fluoridated water of other safe sources of fluoride.”  

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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 Consumers League Statement on Senate HELP Committee Hearing

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The 340B program has become a billion-dollar cash cow

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

Washington, DC – Today, the Senate HELP Committee will hold a hearing on the 340B program, marking an important milestone in the conversation around reforming the program so it serves vulnerable patients – as it was intended to.

“The 340B program has become a billion-dollar cash cow, straying from its original mission and lining the pockets of big hospital businesses instead of helping patients,” said Sally Greenberg, CEO of National Consumers League. “We are hopeful that this hearing will finally push Congress to act. Not to put an end to 340B, but to reform it such that the program can once again serve its purpose.”

For years, the 340B program has grown unchecked, enriching large hospital systems and pharmacy chains while patients continue to face high drug costs and limited access to care. The program’s intent was simple: help safety-net providers stretch resources to reach underserved patients. But increasingly, discounts never reach those who need them most.

Now is the time for action. The National Consumers League urges Congress to use this moment to bring transparency, accountability, and patient-centered reform to 340B.

Read our comments here.

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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.    

Separating Fact from Fear About Tylenol Use in Pregnancy

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By Lisa Bercu, NCL’s Senior Director of Health Policy

I remember like it was yesterday when I found out I was pregnant with each of my kids, now seven and ten years old.  I felt a mix of joy, excitement, and worry all at once.  But more than anything, I felt protective, thinking about how to keep them safe and give them the best start in life. As President Obama remarked, “To have a child is to have your heart walking around outside your body,” which I think perfectly sums up the realities of being a parent.  

That’s why I was so concerned when President Trump made unsupported claims that acetaminophen (commonly known by the brand name Tylenol) may cause autism when used in pregnancy, and that young children shouldn’t take acetaminophen for “virtually any reason.”  Moms deserve clear, science-based information, and not fear or guilt.   We need to feel confident making decisions that protect our health and our children’s health.   

Here’s what we know so far: research has not proven that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy causes autism. Most of the studies that have looked at this question have not shown a clear cause-and-effect link. The two best studies we have so far, published in 2021 and 2024, give doctors and parents the most reliable evidence to date that acetaminophen is safe to use in pregnancy when needed.  

 What we also know is that autism doesn’t have a single cause and is due to many different factors, including genetics and environment. In addition, the rise in autism is due to increased awareness and the medical community better recognizing and diagnosing it.  

It’s also important to know that untreated illness in pregnancy can be dangerous.  Untreated fever, particularly in the first trimester, increases the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth, and untreated pain can lead to maternal depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure.   

Medical experts, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have all reaffirmed that acetaminophen is safe when taken as needed, in moderation, and after consultation with a doctor.  In addition, leading autism organizations, including the Autism Science Foundation and Autism Speaks, agree that acetaminophen use in pregnancy has not been proven to cause autism.    

Pregnancy is not easy.  While President Trump implies that moms should just “tough it out” when they’re not feeling well, that’s not how real life works. Many of us are still trying to do it all while pregnant – working, managing households, and running after older kids. Illness doesn’t politely wait until after delivery and ignoring it isn’t always safe.  

Women need options to treat pain and fever during pregnancy.  Unlike ibuprofen, which carries known risks later in pregnancy, acetaminophen has been trusted for decades as the best over-the-counter choice for managing fever or pain while pregnant.    

If you have any concerns about taking medications during pregnancy, it’s always a good idea to talk with your doctor. You can also check out MotherToBaby.org, which has reliable, evidence-based information on medications like acetaminophen, and you can even call or chat with trained specialists to get answers to your specific questions.                                   

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: healthy moms and healthy kids. The best way to get there is to rely on up-to-date and high-quality evidence and to have open conversations with your doctors.  

National Consumers League Calls Out Flawed Science in MAHA Second Health Report

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

Washington, DC — The National Consumers League (NCL) is deeply concerned about the Trump Administration’s latest Make America Healthy Again Commission (MAHA) report, led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. While framed as a blueprint for addressing childhood chronic disease and other public health issues, the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy Report lacks in policy specificity and leaves parents and consumers with more questions than answers. 

“Parents deserve health policies grounded in science, not politics dressed up as evidence,” said Lisa Bercu, Senior Director of Health Policy at NCL. “The steps and campaigns proposed in the Strategy Report will not only further erode the public’s trust in science and public health, by reevaluating well-established, safe, and effective standards such as the childhood vaccine schedule, but when considered alongside this administration’s cuts to public health agencies and critical science, really make us question whether the goal is to improve public health. Ignoring decades of scientific progress and undermining vaccines won’t make children healthier—it will set public health back by decades.” 

NCL released a statement in June 2025 in response to the first MAHA report, condemning RFK Jr. for releasing a misleading and dangerous document that relies on outdated and misrepresented data to undermine vaccines, food safety, and decades of consumer protections. 

The second report repeats this pattern—questioning established vaccine schedules and raising doubts about lifesaving immunizations. 

As an organization committed to protecting consumers, NCL supports evidence-based policies. But we reject attempts to use selective science to justify undermining vaccines, weakening environmental safeguards, or shifting responsibility for chronic disease onto families without addressing systemic drivers like access to affordable healthcare, healthy foods, and safe environments. 

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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. 

Children Will Pay the Price for Florida’s Reckless Vaccine Decision

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

Washington, DC — The National Consumers League (NCL) strongly opposes Florida’s decision to weaken vaccine mandate protections, a move that endangers children and families. Vaccines are one of the most effective public health tools in history, eradicating or nearly eliminating diseases that once devastated communities. By removing mandates, Florida risks the return of preventable outbreaks—especially threatening children who are too young to be vaccinated or those who cannot receive vaccines for medical reasons. 

“Vaccines are one of the most effective public health tools in history, eradicating or nearly eliminating diseases like polio and measles that once devastated communities,” said Lisa Bercu, NCL’s Senior Director of Health Policy. “Removing vaccine mandates erodes critical protections for children, leaving them vulnerable to dangerous but preventable illnesses.  Without these safeguards, we risk seeing the return of diseases we thought were behind us.  The government has a responsibility to uphold vaccines as an essential public health safeguard.”

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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.    

Purging Science from Federal Agencies is Endangering the Health of Every American 

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

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is greatly concerned about the recent upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including the abrupt ousting of CDC Director Susan Monarez less than a month after she was sworn in. 

“These departures are a warning about the state of science and our public health agencies in America. Government public health experts do not seek high salaries; they are driven by an unwavering commitment to advancing public health, fostering research and development, and ensuring safe, effective, and affordable medicine grounded in science and evidence,” says Lisa Bercu, NCL’s Senior Director of Health Policy.  

“By forcing out these dedicated professionals, this administration and RFK Jr. have significantly weakened our healthcare infrastructure,” Bercu continued. “RFK Jr. is leading one of the most hostile efforts in modern U.S. history against credible science and good medicine—actions that are deeply dangerous to the health and well-being of all Americans.”   

Director Monarez was confirmed on July 29, 2025, through a narrow Senate vote and assumed leadership on July 31. Only weeks later, on or around August 27, she was removed from her position amid accusations of refusing to implement politically motivated directives.   

Additionally, at least four senior CDC officials—Dr. Debra Houry, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Dr. Daniel Jernigan, and Dr. Jennifer Layden resigned in protest, decrying the “weaponization of public health” and politicization of agency leadership. These events signal a grave erosion of science-first governance at one of our nation’s foremost public health institutions. 

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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 Sends Letter to Senate HELP Committee on Lowering Healthcare Costs

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

Washington, DC – On July 31, 2025, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on the rising cost of healthcare and the urgent need for patient-focused reform. Lawmakers and expert witnesses discussed challenges with employer-sponsored insurance, the lack of price transparency, and the profit-driven nature of the U.S. healthcare system.

In response, the National Consumers League submitted a letter urging the Committee to take swift, bipartisan action to address medical debt, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, oversight of the 340B program, and healthcare price transparency. These are essential steps to protect consumers and ensure that our healthcare system works for everyone. A copy of the letter can be found HERE. 

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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.    

From Campus to Community: NCL’s 2025 Script Your Future Competition Winners Announced

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

 Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Script Your Future Team Challenge, an annual competition that engages pharmacy students in raising awareness about the importance of medication adherence.  

“The creativity and community spirit these students displayed is inspiring,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “From reaching traditionally underserved populations to building interdisciplinary collaborations, this year’s Script Your Future participants tackled some of the most pressing barriers to medication adherence head-on.”    

2025 Award Winners:  

  • National Award – Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy 
    • The team focused on reproductive health, pediatric medication safety, and drug misuse prevention. They hosted live educational events, launched a student-led health blog for ongoing outreach, and partnered with community groups to expand their impact both in person and online. 
  • Media/Communications Award – Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy 
    • Wilkes students executed a strong media campaign that included a live segment on PA Live!, coverage in the Times Leader, and creative social media outreach. Their use of engaging materials, like a medication adherence bingo board, helped boost interaction and visibility. 
  • Under-Represented Community Outreach Award – Temple University School of Pharmacy 
    •  Temple students conducted outreach across North Philadelphia, partnering with grocery stores, churches, libraries, and senior centers to reach underserved populations with information on safe medication use, drug disposal, and vaccine confidence. 
  • Inter-Professional Award – University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy 
    •  UNM integrated their Challenge campaign into the leadership of the ASHP student chapter and collaborated with students in nursing and medicine. Their events included Legislative Day at the State Capitol and a clinic at a men’s homeless shelter. 
  • Inter-Professional Award – Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy 
    • LECOM students ran 33 events and partnered with nearly 20 organizations. Their campaign, themed “Be SAFE, Be Well,” included collaborations with public health departments, professional associations, and campus-based health advocacy groups. 

This year’s Challenge saw participation from 14 colleges and schools of pharmacy across eight states, reaching approximately 30,000 individuals through in-person events and dynamic media and social media outreach. Teams also partnered with on-campus organizations and even participated in advocacy efforts before their state legislatures.  

The Script Your Future Team Challenge is coordinated by NCL and supported by partners and sponsors including Bayer, Eli Lilly, Kenvue, Pfizer, USP, ASOP Global, ASHP, the Biosimilars Council, the Biosimilars Forum, NABP, and NCPA.  

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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.  

Medicaid cuts deepen coordinated assault on women’s healthcare  

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

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is speaking out against the sweeping Medicaid cuts included in Trump’s reconciliation package, warning that they come amid a dangerous, coordinated assault on women’s access to essential healthcare services. The new law imposes deep, structural reductions to Medicaid funding and blocks people who use Medicaid from getting care at Planned Parenthood, threatening the health and well-being of millions of low-income Americans, especially women who rely on the program for critical reproductive and preventive care.  This follows a recent Supreme Court decision giving states the green light to block Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds for essential healthcare services. 

“These cuts to Medicaid and attacks on women’s health are unconscionable,” said NCL Senior Director of Health Policy Lisa Bercu. “They aren’t just numbers in a budget; they translate to fewer prenatal visits, canceled pap smears, and lost access to birth control. These attacks are not about abortion, as federal funds cannot be used for abortion services. Women who depend on Medicaid are being targeted from every angle, and it’s putting their health and lives at risk.”  

When the dust settles from these preposterous cuts, the reality is that 16 million people will be left uninsured—11.8 million due to the bill itself and another 4.2 million because of the failure to renew Affordable Care Act subsidies. The bottom line is that the right to affordable, accessible healthcare should not depend on your income, gender, or zip code.  

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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. 

Lisa Bercu joins NCL as Senior Director of Health Policy

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

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL), America’s pioneering consumer advocacy organization, is pleased to announce Lisa Bercu as the new Senior Director of Health Policy. Ms. Bercu brings more than a decade of experience in health policy, regulatory affairs, and legislative advocacy to her new role. 

Before joining the League, Lisa spent eight years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she served as Senior Regulatory Counsel in the Office of Generic Drugs and later as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs. Her extensive work at the FDA helped shape key policies related to drug access and patient safety.  

Prior to her federal service, Lisa held positions in congressional and regulatory affairs at both a medical society and a reproductive health organization, where she advanced initiatives focused on patient care and public health. 

Lisa earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A. from the University of Michigan. 

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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.