Preventive Health Savings Act
Preventive Health Savings Act
Plain Language Summary
# Preventive Health Savings Act Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)—the nonpartisan agency that estimates the costs of legislation—to evaluate whether proposed bills would save money in the long term through preventive healthcare measures. If the CBO finds that a bill would reduce government spending beyond the standard 10-year budget window by promoting preventive care (like screenings, vaccinations, and wellness programs that prevent disease), it must report those potential savings alongside its regular cost estimates. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill primarily affects Congress and the budgeting process rather than the public directly.
The main provision requires CBO to identify and document long-term savings from preventive health measures when Congress requests it. Importantly, these supplementary estimates could not be used to officially determine whether a bill complies with budget rules—they would be additional information only. **Current Status** The bill (HR 4464) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Republican Representative Jay Obernolte of California and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet advanced to a full House vote.
CRS Official Summary
Preventive Health Savings ActThis bill requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), upon receiving a request from Congress, to determine if proposed legislation would reduce spending outside of the 10-year budget window through the use of preventive health care.Under the bill, the term preventive health care generally refers to an action that focuses on the health of the public, individuals, and defined populations in order to protect, promote, and maintain health and wellness and prevent disease, disability, and premature death.If CBO determines that the proposed legislation would result in net reductions in budget outlays from the use of preventive health care, any CBO projection regarding the legislation must include (1) a description and estimate of the reductions in outlays, and (2) a description of the basis for these conclusions. Any estimate provided by CBO pursuant to this bill must be used as a supplementary estimate and may not be used to determine compliance with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 or any other budgetary enforcement controls.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on the Budget.