Allows Employers Offering High Deductible Health Plans to Offer Pre-Deductible Coverage of 14 Chronic Healthcare Services
“I Look Forward to Getting This Bill Signed Into Law”
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chair of the Health Subcommittee, released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed his Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act (H.R. 919), which expands treatment options provided through employers’ healthcare coverage for Americans living with chronic diseases.
“With six in ten Americans living with at least one chronic disease, it is clear that we must expand options for people to manage their chronic health conditions,” said Buchanan. “The Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act offers employees more flexibility to manage their chronic diseases, improving patient health while reducing high out-of-pocket costs. I’m proud that this legislation passed the House with unanimous bipartisan support, and I look forward to getting this bill signed into law.”
Click here or the image above to view Congressman Buchanan’s remarks.
The Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act allows employers who offer high-deductible health plan (HDHP) coverage for their employees the option of including pre-deductible coverage for certain healthcare services that treat common chronic illnesses. The legislation codifies a Trump Administration policy established in 2019.
Buchanan’s bill allows employers to offer pre-deductible coverage of 14 chronic healthcare services for employees using an HDHP. These services include beta-blockers for patients with congestive heart failure, blood pressure monitors for patients with high blood pressure, glucometers for patients with diabetes, inhalers for patients with asthma, cholesterol drugs and testing for patients with heart disease. The legislation also ensures the list of services can continue to be expanded upon, as needed.
The Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with unanimous bipartisan support during the 118th Congress but was not voted on in the U.S. Senate.
This legislation is supported by numerous leading organizations, including the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the National Small Business Association (NSBA), the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC), the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), the American Benefits Council, the Smarter Health Care Coalition, the Alliance to Fight for Health Care, the Health Savings Account Council and the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM).
In addition to being the Vice Chairman and most senior Republican on the powerful U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, Buchanan is also the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, which has broad jurisdiction over traditional Medicare, the Medicare prescription drug benefit program and Medicare Advantage.
