Crapo Co-Leads Effort to Better Realize Long-Term Savings from Preventive Health Care

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today joined his colleague Senator Angus King (I-Maine), as well as Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) and Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), in reintroducing S. 3204, the Preventive Health Savings Act. This bipartisan legislation would enable the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to better account for how certain health care initiatives may yield prevention-related savings, allowing congressional leaders to receive more accurate and informed estimates for policymaking. Currently, CBO uses a 10-year budget window when providing its analyses. The proposed bill would increase this outlook to 30 years.

“It is important we have a clear, long-term picture of the return on investment from preventive health care measures,” said Crapo. “Removing current CBO limitations benefits any future health care reform and helps pave the way for additional preventive measures that save lives and reduce costs.”

The Preventive Health Savings Act limits the definition of preventive health to “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 that is demonstrated by credible and publicly available evidence from epidemiological projection models, clinical trials, observational studies in humans, longitudinal studies, and meta-analysis.” This would ensure a tailored review of policies intended to curb federal health care expenditures through prevention-focused actions.

The legislation is also supported by a large coalition of health care-focused organizations and patient advocacy groups, including the American Medical Association, the American College of Preventive Medicine, the American Physical Therapy Association, the National Association of Community Health Centers, Premier, Inc. and the Healthcare Leadership Council.

Companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives is being led by Representatives Jay Obernolte (R-California), Diana DeGette (D-Colorado), Buddy Carter (R-Georgia) and Scott Peters (D-California).

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