Rep. Jason T. Smith, U.S. Representative for Missouri's 8th District | Official Website
Rep. Jason T. Smith, U.S. Representative for Missouri's 8th District | Official Website
On September 18, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act (H.R. 3800), which aims to expand treatment options for Americans living with chronic diseases through their employer’s health care coverage. The legislation was introduced by Representatives Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) and Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) of the Ways and Means Committee.
The act allows employers who offer high-deductible health plans to include pre-deductible coverage for specific health care services that treat common chronic illnesses. This move codifies a policy established by the Trump Administration in 2019.
During the legislative debate, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) emphasized the potential impact of the act on millions of Americans with chronic illnesses, highlighting both quality of life improvements and cost reductions in 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,” said Smith. “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.”
The Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act permits employers to offer pre-deductible coverage for 14 chronic health care services under high-deductible plans. These services include beta-blockers for congestive heart failure patients, blood pressure monitors for those with high blood pressure, glucometers for diabetes patients, inhalers for asthma sufferers, and cholesterol drugs and testing for heart disease patients. The legislation also ensures that this list can be expanded as needed.
Currently, 56 percent of employers provide high-deductible health plans to their employees.
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