Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has said she has gotten in touch with the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission to address deceptive telehealth ads. Congressional leaders involved in healthcare policy-making are calling for more oversight of telehealth advertising after The Wall Street Journal published an analysis showing companies flouting advertising rules. Federal regulators must work to address regulatory gaps that were made apparent because of the Journal’s reporting, according to several members of Congress. While the Food and Drug Administration closely monitors advertising by pharmaceutical companies, and the Federal Trade Commission scrutinizes advertising generally, an apparent lack of oversight of telehealth startups makes it possible for consumers to get bombarded on social media by ads promoting prescription drugs with no risk disclosures and for uses that aren’t FDA approved, the Journal reporting has found.

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