OTC Medical Devices

CHPA applauds the introduction of H.R. 1219, the Oral Health Products Inclusion Act, which would increase access to certain oral care items, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and other everyday oral care essentials by recognizing them as “qualified medical expenses” that can be purchased with Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) funds.

“CHPA and its member companies look forward to working with Secretary Kennedy to advance policies that will enhance American consumers’ access to safe, effective, and affordable self-care options. With a growing demand for OTC medicines, dietary supplements, and OTC medical devices, it is imperative that our nation’s healthcare leaders expand access, streamline regulatory pathways, and reinforce public confidence through transparent, data-driven decisions. This can be achieved through the reauthorization of the Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program (OMUFA), Rx-to-OTC switch improvements, and the modernization of the more than 30-year-old Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA).

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) today announced the recent hiring of Dr. Fred Meadows as its new Senior Director of Quality, Technical, and Regulatory Affairs and Dr. Caitlin Ondracek as its new Senior Director of Medical Science and Regulatory Affairs. Meadows will report to Dr. Marcia Howard, Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, and Ondracek will report to Dr. Jay Sirois, Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs.

CHPA monitors legislation in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and takes positions per the direction of the State & Local Government Affairs Committee. As the role of OTC Devices in self-care continues to grow, so too will our engagement on issues at all levels of American government.

Fearing links to human health problems and harm to the environment, state lawmakers are increasingly seeking to restrict the use and/or presence of PFAS in consumer products and packaging, whether intentionally added or not.

Today, common over the counter (OTC) contraceptives are affordable, readily accessible, and they play critical roles in reducing unintended pregnancies. Some of today’s most common forms of OTC birth control include male and female condoms, spermicides, birth control sponges, and emergency contraception.

OTC medical devices like bandages, menstrual products, face masks, and at-home test kits, used for the purposes of prevention, testing, and treatment are well-accepted, cost saving elements of the healthcare system. Unfortunately, most states that have a retail sales tax, include a tax on the sale of some or all OTC healthcare products. More than 40 states, on the other hand, exempt sales tax of prescription drugs.