U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan representing Florida's 16th Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan representing Florida's 16th Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
Yesterday, a letter was sent by Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chair of the Health Subcommittee, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, and Congressman Jimmy Panetta to IRS Acting Commissioner Gary A. Shapley, Jr. The letter urges the IRS to revise and expand the services and treatments for chronic diseases covered under employer-sponsored high-deductible health plans (HDHPs).
Implemented during the Trump Administration, IRS Notice 2019-45 allows HDHPs to cover chronic disease management services without requiring individuals to meet a deductible. Currently, this includes treatments like beta-blockers for congestive heart failure, blood pressure monitors for hypertension, and glucometers for diabetes.
The letter to Acting Commissioner Shapley highlights the high prevalence of chronic disease and associated substantial health care spending. "Six in ten Americans live with at least one chronic disease, and nearly 90 percent of our nation’s $4.5 trillion in annual health care spending goes toward treating patients with chronic and mental health conditions. Chronic diseases are among the ten leading causes of death in the United States," they noted.
They warned of the rising costs faced by Americans, with an over 7 percent increase in out-of-pocket expenses in 2024, and emphasized the urgent need for policy updates. "We ask that you use your authority to make updating Notice 2019-45 a top priority of the agency to expand the list of allowed chronic disease management services," they stated, indicating that such a change would significantly impact Americans.
The proposal aligns with the Ways and Means Committee activities examining the chronic disease epidemic. Efforts include hearings focusing on prevention, treatments, patient empowerment, and the importance of early detection. Additionally, Buchanan’s Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act (H.R. 919), which aims to enshrine the 2019 guidance into law, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last month.
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