Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 919) to codify Internal Revenue Service guidance relating to treatment of certain services and items for chronic conditions as meeting the preventive care deductible safe harbor for purposes of high deductible health plans in connection with health savings accounts.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 919 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act''. SEC. 2. SERVICES AND ITEMS FOR CHRONIC CONDITIONS TREATED AS PREVENTIVE CARE. (a) In General.--The additional preventive care services and items for chronic conditions that may be treated as preventive care for purposes of section 223(c)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as set forth in IRS Notice 2019-45 shall have the same force and effect as if included in the enactment of this Act. (b) No Inference.--To the extent not inconsistent with this section, no inference shall be made from subsection (a) with respect to such other rules or guidance as the Secretary has provided, or may provide, with respect to preventive services for purposes of section 223(c)(2)(C) of such Code.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act, introduced by Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Vern Buchanan and our Ways and Means colleague, Representative Jimmy Panetta.

This legislation provides employers and their employees with greater flexibility to design healthcare coverage options that expand access to treatments for chronic diseases.

The chronic disease epidemic has, unfortunately, impacted nearly every family in America and represents a significant share of our healthcare spending. In fact, 90 percent of the $4.1 trillion this country spends each year on healthcare goes toward chronic disease. This is not surprising when you realize that 60 percent of Americans suffer from some form of chronic disease, whether it be heart disease, diabetes, or cancer.

So many Americans would benefit from having healthcare coverage that is not only more affordable but more responsive to their needs so that they can better manage their health.

Last Congress, the House of Representatives approved a version of this legislation, but unfortunately, we were not able to get the bill across the finish line. However, with President Trump back in the White House, we are moving this bill once again, a bill that further strengthens a policy put in place during the first Trump administration.

For the 53 percent of employers that offer high deductible health plans to their employees, they would now be able to improve those options by allowing predeductible coverage of critical chronic care management services, including beta blockers, blood pressure monitors, glucometers, inhalers, and medications and testing to help individuals with high cholesterol. While the bill includes 14 specific services that could be covered, it leaves the door open for the list to be expanded later, as well.

By providing flexible coverage options for more people living with chronic health conditions, we can help lower their costs and improve their health and well-being.

I thank Representatives Buchanan and Panetta for their leadership on this issue, as well as recognize the work of our Ways and Means Health Subcommittee that held its first hearing this Congress on creating healthier options for families and raising awareness about the chronic disease epidemic we have in this country.

As HHS Secretary Kennedy is shining a light on the chronic disease epidemic, the Ways and Means Committee is leading the charge in Congress to examine the root causes and delivering solutions, including this bill before us today.

I encourage all of my colleagues to once again provide strong bipartisan support for this effort to address chronic disease. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is long overdue, particularly given the enormous size, scope, and cost of America's chronic disease epidemic. It will put more patients in the driver's seat when it comes to managing their health, and open doors for folks to get the treatments that will not only save them money but improve their well-being.

High deductible healthcare plans are already a popular option for employers to offer their workers. Expanding what services can be provided under these plans, specifically to help treat chronic diseases, will only make this a more affordable and useful health coverage choice for patients.

I encourage my colleagues to support the passage of the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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