Ricketts Introduces the HEALTH Panel Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Healthy Equipping and Lending Technical Help (HEALTH) Panel Act. The bill provides congressional oversight of the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) Panel of Health Advisors. Currently, this panel is not bipartisan, lacks regional representation, and holds private meetings.

“The HEALTH Panel Act is a necessary step toward increasing congressional oversight over unelected bureaucrats,” said Senator Ricketts. “The Panel of Health Advisors can influence scoring of health-related bills. We need to bring this panel into the light. This bill will develop the CBO scoring process so that it accurately represents the healthcare interests of all Americans when evaluating legislation—especially for rural Americans.”

“Balancing the budget starts with understanding how new policies will impact our bottom line. The HEALTH Panel Act is a necessary, common-sense step to improve both cost estimates and congressional oversight of the CBO’s Panel of Health Advisers, so Congress can craft effective legislation with a full and accurate understanding of budgetary impacts. I thank Senators Ricketts for his support of this critical bill,” said Representative Buddy Carter (GA-01), the HEALTH Panel Act’s lead in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The HEALTH Panel Act:

• Requires that the membership of the panel shall include 15 appointed members.
  • The chair and the ranking member of the House Budget Committee will each make three appointments to the panel.
  • The chair and ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee will each make three appointments.
  • The Director of the Congressional Budget Office will make three appointments.
  • Members will serve a term of three years and a maximum of two terms.
• Requires the Panel to meet at least once annually and to issue an annual report to Congress detailing the work of the Panel.
  • Includes a description prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office detailing how the office utilized any such recommendations provided and the extent to which any such recommendations were integrated into the office’s studies and cost estimates.

The text of the bill is available here.

BACKGROUND:

Over 20 years ago, the Congressional Budget Committee (CBO) created the Panel of Health Advisors. The panel advises CBO in its scoring process on health-related bills.

There is no statutory authority for this Panel of Health Advisors, nor is there any clear guidance on the purpose, duty, function, responsibility, or appointment authority. It is not bipartisan, and the meetings are not open to the public. This legislation would provide much needed oversight and ensure ideological diversity on the panel.

Recently, an article revealed that the CBO’s Health Analysis Division is primarily composed of registered Democrats and Democratic donors. This adds to the importance of congressional oversight.

Last Congress, the HEALTH Panel Act passed the House Budget Committee with every member of the majority voting in favor of it.