WASHINGTON, D.C. – Americans living with chronic diseases will have access to expanded treatment options provided through their employer’s health care coverage under legislation approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act (H.R. 3800), introduced by Ways and Means members Representatives Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) and Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), allows for employers who offer high-deductible health plan coverage for their employees the option of including pre-deductible coverage for certain health care services that treat common chronic illnesses. The legislation codifies a Trump Administration policy established in 2019.

During debate on the legislation, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) highlighted how the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act has the potential to impact a large number of Americans facing chronic illnesses, improving their quality of life while lowering the cost of health care:

“Six in ten Americans live with at least one chronic disease such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes. Nearly 90 percent of the $4.1 trillion in annual health care spending in this country goes toward the treatment of patients with chronic diseases.

“Part of improving the delivery of health care in America must be expanding the opportunity for folks to better manage their chronic health conditions, so that they can live longer, healthier lives and we can bring down the financial impact of health care on individuals, families, businesses, and the government.”

Click here to read Chairman Smith’s full opening statement from the debate on the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act in the House of Representatives.

Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act (H.R. 3800)

Allows employers to offer pre-deductible coverage of 14 chronic health care services for employees using a high-deductible health plan.

• Lowers health care costs for families living with chronic health conditions.
• Allows for pre-deductible coverage of services like 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.
• Ensures the list of services can continue to be expanded upon, as needed.
• 56 percent of employers offer employees high-deductible health plans.
  

Read the one-pager on the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act here.