Preventive Health Savings Act
Summary
The Preventive Health Savings Act aims to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to include considerations for preventive healthcare savings in budget projections. It directs the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to determine if proposed legislation would result in net reductions in budget outlays through preventive healthcare. This determination would be made upon request from the chair and ranking minority member of the Budget Committees of the House and Senate, as well as the committees of primary jurisdiction.
If the Director determines that net reductions would occur, they must include a description and estimate of these reductions in budget projections. The projections may extend beyond the typical time periods outlined in existing budget regulations.
However, any estimates provided by the Director are supplementary and cannot be used to determine compliance with the Congressional Budget Act or other budgetary enforcement controls.
Expected Effects
The act would likely lead to increased emphasis on preventive healthcare measures in proposed legislation. It could also result in more comprehensive budget projections that account for long-term savings from preventive care.
However, because the estimates are supplementary and not for enforcement, the actual impact on budget decisions may be limited. The act's success depends on the willingness of lawmakers to consider these supplementary estimates during the legislative process.
Potential Benefits
- Long-term cost savings: By accounting for the long-term savings of preventive health care, the government may be able to make more informed decisions about healthcare spending.
- Improved public health: Increased focus on preventive care could lead to a healthier population and reduced healthcare costs in the long run.
- More comprehensive budget projections: The act encourages the CBO to provide more detailed and longer-term budget projections.
- Encourages innovation: The act promotes the use of effective and innovative healthcare interventions.
- Data-driven decision making: The act requires that preventive health care interventions be demonstrated by credible and publicly available evidence.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Limited enforcement: The estimates provided by the CBO are supplementary and cannot be used for budgetary enforcement, which may limit the act's impact.
- Potential for biased estimates: The determination of net reductions in budget outlays is subject to the Director's discretion, which could lead to biased estimates.
- Increased complexity: The act adds complexity to the budget process by requiring additional analysis and projections.
- Uncertainty in long-term projections: Long-term budget projections are inherently uncertain, which could undermine the accuracy of the estimates.
- Potential for political manipulation: The act could be used to justify spending on certain preventive health care measures, even if they are not cost-effective.
Constitutional Alignment
The Preventive Health Savings Act appears to align with the US Constitution, particularly the clause promoting the "general Welfare" of the United States. By aiming to improve public health and reduce healthcare costs, the act could be seen as an effort to promote the general welfare.
Additionally, Article I, Section 8 grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. This bill relates to how congress makes decisions about spending, which is within their purview.
However, the act does not directly implicate any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).