Washington, D.C.- Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House and Energy Subcommittee on Health, today introduced bipartisan legislation H.R. 2953 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 2017, 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.”
“This year’s congressional efforts on American health care have highlighted the CBO’s non-partisan work and shown how important it can be to making solid legislative choices,”said Rep. DeGette.“But our laws prevent health care spending projections from taking long-term savings into account. It’s time we let the CBO make decisions based on science and with those long-term cost projections in mind.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; ACT | The App Association; Aetna; Alliance for Aging Research; Allscripts; Alzheimer’s Association; Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM); America’s Essential Hospitals; America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP); American Art Therapy Association; American; Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR); American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC); American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE); American Association of Diabetes Educators; American Association on Health and Disability; American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA); American College of Gastroenterology; American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; American College of Preventive Medicine; American College of Radiology; American Council on Exercise; American Diabetes Association; American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; American Medical Association; American Optometric Association; American Osteopathic Association; American Pharmacists Association; American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA); American Psychological Association; American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery; AmerisourceBergen Corporation; AMGA; Amgen; Ascension Health; Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare; Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies; Baxter; Biocom; BioReference Laboratories; BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee; Boehringer Ingelheim; California Life Sciences Association; Cancer Support Community; Cardinal Health; Clinical Social Work Association; Connected Health Initiative; Council for Affordable Health Coverage; Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance; Diabetes Hands Foundation; Dialysis Patient Citizens; Eating Disorders Coalition; Eisai; Eli Lilly and Company; Endocrine Society; Facing Addiction; Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy; Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS); Healthcare Leadership Council; HealthyWomen; IHRSA: International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association; Indiana University Health; Johnson & Johnson; Lakeshore Foundation; Leidos; Lewin and Associates LLC; Marshfield Clinic; Maxim Healthcare Services; MemorialCare Health System; Mental Health America; Merck; National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations; National Assn for Rural Mental Health; National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors; National Association for the Self-Employed; National Association of ACOs; National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS); National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems; National Association of Social Workers; National Association of Spine Specialists; National Coalition on Health Care; National Consumers League; National Council on Aging; National Kidney Foundation; National Restaurant Association; National Retail Federation; Nestle Health Science; Novartis; Novo Nordisk; NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association; Obesity Action Coalition; Obesity Medicine Association; Obesity Society; Omada Health; Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease; Patients Rising; Pediatric Endocrine Society; Pfizer; PhRMA; Premier Healthcare Alliance; Prescriptions for a Healthy America; Prevent Cancer Foundation; Redstone Center; Rite Aid; Sanofi US; SCAN Health Plan; Society for Women’s Health Research; Sports & Fitness Industry Association; Stroll Health; Takeda Pharmaceuticals; Texas Health Resources; Third Way; UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust; Underwriters Laboratories INC.; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA); Vizient; Weight Watchers; YMCA of the USA.
To download the PDF of the legislation click here.
