Washington, D.C. - Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade today introduced bipartisan legislation H.R. 3660 with Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) that would direct the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to analyze scientific medical data to provide information on the savings of preventive health initiatives beyond the traditional 10-year scoring window.

The bill, known as the Preventive Health Savings Act of 2015, aims to modernize the way CBO scores preventive health legislation, allowing for a longer “scoring” window in which to assess the long-term health savings that are possible from preventive health initiatives. 

“Minimizing the cost of a significant and complex problem such as chronic disease is not an easy or quick endeavor,” said Rep. Burgess. “Allowing the CBO to analyze scientific data, and having the ability to provide projects past the ten year scoring window will provide a more accurate projection for programs with children and other populations or diseases with longer development periods. This legislation is a responsible approach and will ensure that the government calculates the savings of preventative health.”

“Preventive care is essential to keep Americans healthy and drive down unnecessary spending,” said Rep. DeGette. “Our laws prevent health care spending projections from taking into account long-term savings. It’s time we allow the CBO to make decisions based on science and informed by long term cost projections. I look forward to continuing this bipartisan work that will save money and keep Americans healthy.”

“To address a chronic disease escalation that threatens to affect our society and economy for the next several decades, we need long-term thinking that transcends the way Congress traditionally thinks about policy and budgets. Innovations that can prevent illness and improve population health for generations shouldn’t be stymied by an arbitrary 10-year budget window. The Preventive Health Savings Act will grant lawmakers the flexibility to combat cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other devastating conditions,” said Mary R. Grealy, President of the Healthcare Leadership Council.

This legislation is supported by: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Alliance for Aging Research, Allscripts, Alzheimer’s Association, America’s Essential Hospitals, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Clinical Laboratory Association, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, American College of Preventive Medicine, American College of Radiology, American Council on Exercise, American Diabetes Association, American Osteopathic Association, American Podiatric Medical Association, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, American Society of Bariatric Physicians, Amgen, Ascension Health, athenahealth, BioReference Laboratories, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Boehringer Ingelheim, Campaign to End Obesity Action Fund, Cancer Support Community, Cardinal Health, Cleveland Clinic, Council for Affordable Health Coverage, Dialysis Patient Citizens, Eisai, Endocrine Society, Healthcare Leadership Council, Healthways, IHRSA: International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, Indiana University Health, Johnson & Johnson, Marshfield Clinic, McKesson Corporation, Medtronic, MemorialCare Health System, Merck, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Business Coalition on Health, National Business Group on Health, National Retail Federation, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Obesity Action Coalition, Omada Health, Partnership for Prevention, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Pfizer, Population Health Alliance, Premier healthcare alliance, Prescriptions for a Healthy America, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Rite Aid, Sanofi US, SCAN Health Plan, Society for Women’s Health Research, Sports & Fitness Industry Association, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Texas Health Resources, The Endocrine Society, The Obesity Society, Third Way, VHA Inc., VNAA, VSP Vision Care, Weight Watchers, Women Heart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and YMCA of the USA.

To download the PDF of the legislation click here.