Access to Safe Medical Devices
NCL is proud to advocate for consumer access to safe and effective FDA approved drugs and medical devices. Since December of last year, NCL has been engaging with the FDA on the need for increased sound safety levels when establishing new Over the Counter (OTC) hearing aids. NCL recently garnered co-signers from 29 aligned non-profit stakeholders for a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, calling for stronger measures to better protect consumers affected by this new category of medical devices.
Prescription Drug Pricing
On March 29, NCL led a discussion with key experts on the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in driving up prescription drug prices. You can watch the recording and learn more here: https://nclnet.org/pbms. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking public comment on how PBM practices impact consumer access. NCL is leading consumer outreach efforts to elicit public comment via a grassroots advocacy letter writing campaign. The comment period was extended through May 25. Please share widely and encourage consumers to share their story with the FTC here.
On April 26, NCL hosted a briefing titled “Measuring the 340B Program’s Impact on Charitable Care and Operating Profits for Covered Entities”. The 340B program requires that drug manufacturers provide deep discounts for their products to charity and nonprofit hospitals, with the 340B program conceived to defray the drug costs for patients. NCL is calling on Congress to hold hearings into abuses of the 340B program, in order to correct them with legislation or further federal oversight. This would ensure that patients are getting the benefits that Congress initially intended with this program. Learn more and view the recording here: https://nclnet.org/340b_briefing/.
Vaccine Advocacy
Adult immunization is an important consumer issue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. NCL has been working to increase awareness of the need for adult vaccine uptake. On February 23, NCL submitted comments to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In these comments, NCL applauded the FDA for approving a new vaccine for Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE), which currently has not specific treatment. NCL also called for the CDC to follow with a strong recommendation to ensure equitable access. In its comments, NCL also stresses the importance of protecting older adults from influenza and is encouraged that ACIP is considering recommendations for preferential use of enhanced seasonal influenza vaccines over standard vaccines in adults aged 65 and older. Lastly, NCL called on the CDC to provide clearer recommendations to help increase uptake of the pneumococcal vaccine, and pledges to continue encouraging consumers to ask their healthcare provider about protection against pneumococcal disease, and other vaccine preventable diseases.
Script Your Future
This year marks the 11th year for NCL’s Script Your Future Team Challenge, and we are pleased to report several innovations to the program. This year, participants from 24 schools focused their outreach on three health issues: medication adherence, vaccine confidence, and safe drug disposal. The Team Challenge ran from January 17th to March 28th, and schools submitted their summary reports to NCL. We are currently in the process of scoring reports, so check back at ScriptYourFuture.org in a few weeks for announcement of the 2022 Team Challenge winners!
NCL is also proud to be launching the Script Your Future Alumni Network. Thousands of pharmacists have participated in the SYF Team Challenge over the last ten years. We aim to build the founding members of the alumni network from this year’s Team Challenge participants.
Treatment Adherence Summit in NOLA: Join Us!
Join NCL and the Infusion Access Foundation (IAF) for a Treatment Adherence Summit on Sunday, June 19 in New Orleans, LA. NCL is presenting a panel with the IAF to discuss the role of non-adherence in driving disparate health outcomes for patients managing chronic conditions and infusion treatment. The discussion will focus on sharing strategies and public health interventions to improve medication and treatment adherence in diverse communities.
Let us know if you have community partners based in New Orleans who would be interested in attending the summit. We would be happy to send them a personal invitation. Click here for more information and to register!