Floor SpeechBipartisan2025-03-04

CHRONIC DISEASE FLEXIBLE COVERAGE ACT

HealthcareTaxesTrade

Context

On 2025-03-04, Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) delivered a floor speech titled "CHRONIC DISEASE FLEXIBLE COVERAGE ACT" in the House. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered taxes, trade policy. It referenced legislation: HR919.

Full Text

CHRONIC DISEASE FLEXIBLE COVERAGE ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025)] [House] [Pages H964-H966] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CHRONIC DISEASE FLEXIBLE COVERAGE ACT 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. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri. General Leave Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri? There was no objection. Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 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. [[Page H965]] 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. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and, of course, my good friend, Representative Vern Buchanan, an excellent member of the Ways and Means Committee for their work on this bill. With his work, I rise today to support this legislation, the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act. This is bipartisan, commonsense legislation to allow predeductible health coverage for chronic disease patients with a high deductible health plan, otherwise known as HDHP. This commonsense legislation, as you heard from the chairman, already passed Congress last session under the leadership of my friends and former colleagues, Brad Wenstrup and Earl Blumenauer. It is common sense mainly because, as you heard from the chairman, chronic disease is so common. Mr. Speaker, 6 in 10 adult Americans have a chronic disease, which is the leading cause of disabilities in the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, 90 percent of our annual health spending goes to chronic disease and mental health management. While these chronic diseases are common, they are also manageable if we just do everything that we can to improve access to care. In my 19th Congressional District on the central coast of California, the number one thing I hear about from constituents is access to healthcare or, I should say, the lack of access to healthcare. The one thing that is clear, though, is that insurance doesn't do you much good if you can't use it. In 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 43 percent of people with employer-based coverage had an HDHP. Moreover, 56 percent of employers offer an HDHP. However, nearly 59 percent of Americans--that is nearly 6 in 10 people--lack $1,000 in savings to handle an emergency expense. That is exactly why expanding HDHP coverage to offer critical care for some of our most medically vulnerable constituents isn't just the right thing to do. It is the smart thing to do. The Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act codifies IRS guidance to expand the safe harbor for high deductible health plans offering predeductible care for chronic conditions. It lets employers offer first-dollar access to care for patients with diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and many more, as the chairman mentioned. When this IRS guidance was originally issued in 2019, a survey found that 76 percent, or more than three-quarters, of employers expanded predeductible coverage for chronic diseases. Codifying this policy now will save countless lives by helping more patients manage their conditions and stay healthy. That is why this bill is endorsed by so many, from chronic disease advocates to health benefit groups to small business associations. That is why I recommend my colleagues to vote for the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act. Again, I thank Congressman Buchanan, and I thank the chairman for bringing this bill forward. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan). Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership, as well. I rise today in strong support of my bill, the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act. This important legislation will expand treatment options for Americans living with chronic diseases provided through their employer's healthcare coverage. My bill allows employers to offer predeductibility on 14 different chronic diseases, especially for those who are on high deductible health plans. With 6 in 10 Americans living with at least one chronic disease, it is clear to me that we need to have many more options. The cost for chronic diseases in the American economy is enormous, accounting for over $1 trillion a year, if you can imagine that. Chronic disease also accounts for the overwhelming percentages of preventable deaths in the United States. I believe this initiative will improve patients' health, also reducing costly hospitalizations. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Congressman Panetta, for his leadership and friendship. I really appreciate his working with me on this. I also thank Leader Scalise and Whip Emmer for bringing this to the floor today. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill to help give Americans the tools they need for a longer, healthier, and happier life. Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy). Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, we have heard from great speakers talking about the problem with chronic disease in the United States. One of the issues that face people who have hypertension, kidney disease, and diabetes is that they can't get the medicines or the devices that they need to be able to regulate their condition. This bill, H.R. 919, helps to solve that problem by giving individuals access

Referenced legislation: HR919, HR919

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CHRONIC DISEASE FLEXIBLE COVERAGE ACT Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025)] [House] [Pages H964-H966] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CHRONIC DISEASE FLEXIBLE COVERAGE ACT 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. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri. General Leave Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri? There was no objection. Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 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. [[Page H965]] 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. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and, of course, my good friend, Representative Vern Buchanan, an excellent member of the Ways and Means Committee for their work on this bill. With his work, I rise today to support this legislation, the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act. This is bipartisan, commonsense legislation to allow predeductible health coverage for chronic disease patients with a high deductible health plan, otherwise known as HDHP. This commonsense legislation, as you heard from the chairman, already passed Congress last session under the leadership of my friends and former colleagues, Brad Wenstrup and Earl Blumenauer. It is common sense mainly because, as you heard from the chairman, chronic disease is so common. Mr. Speaker, 6 in 10 adult Americans have a chronic disease, which is the leading cause of disabilities in the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, 90 percent of our annual health spending goes to chronic disease and mental health management. While these chronic diseases are common, they are also manageable if we just do everything that we can to improve access to care. In my 19th Congressional District on the central coast of California, the number one thing I hear about from constituents is access to healthcare or, I should say, the lack of access to healthcare. The one thing that is clear, though, is that insurance doesn't do you much good if you can't use it. In 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 43 percent of people with employer-based coverage had an HDHP. Moreover, 56 percent of employers offer an HDHP. However, nearly 59 percent of Americans--that is nearly 6 in 10 people--lack $1,000 in savings to handle an emergency expense. That is exactly why expanding HDHP coverage to offer critical care for some of our most medically vulnerable constituents isn't just the right thing to do. It is the smart thing to do. The Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act codifies IRS guidance to expand the safe harbor for high deductible health plans offering predeductible care for chronic conditions. It lets employers offer first-dollar access to care for patients with diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and many more, as the chairman mentioned. When this IRS guidance was originally issued in 2019, a survey found that 76 percent, or more than three-quarters, of employers expanded predeductible coverage for chronic diseases. Codifying this policy now will save countless lives by helping more patients manage their conditions and stay healthy. That is why this bill is endorsed by so many, from chronic disease advocates to health benefit groups to small business associations. That is why I recommend my colleagues to vote for the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act. Again, I thank Congressman Buchanan, and I thank the chairman for bringing this bill forward. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan). Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership, as well. I rise today in strong support of my bill, the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act. This important legislation will expand treatment options for Americans living with chronic diseases provided through their employer's healthcare coverage. My bill allows employers to offer predeductibility on 14 different chronic diseases, especially for those who are on high deductible health plans. With 6 in 10 Americans living with at least one chronic disease, it is clear to me that we need to have many more options. The cost for chronic diseases in the American economy is enormous, accounting for over $1 trillion a year, if you can imagine that. Chronic disease also accounts for the overwhelming percentages of preventable deaths in the United States. I believe this initiative will improve patients' health, also reducing costly hospitalizations. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Congressman Panetta, for his leadership and friendship. I really appreciate his working with me on this. I also thank Leader Scalise and Whip Emmer for bringing this to the floor today. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill to help give Americans the tools they need for a longer, healthier, and happier life. Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy). Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, we have heard from great speakers talking about the problem with chronic disease in the United States. One of the issues that face people who have hypertension, kidney disease, and diabetes is that they can't get the medicines or the devices that they need to be able to regulate their condition. This bill, H.R. 919, helps to solve that problem by giving individuals access Referenced legislation: HR919, HR919