Reps. DeGette and Burgess Introduce Legislation on to Modernize CBO Scoring

Press Release

Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) today introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3660, that would direct the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to analyze scientific medical data to provide information on the savings of preventive health initiatives beyond the traditional 10-year scoring window.

The bill, known as the Preventive Health Savings Act of 2015, aims to modernize the way CBO scores preventive health legislation, allowing for a longer "scoring" window in which to assess the long-term health savings that are possible from preventive health initiatives.

"Preventive care is essential to keep Americans healthy and drive down unnecessary spending," said Rep. DeGette. "Our laws prevent health care spending projections from taking into account long-term savings. It's time we allow the CBO to make decisions based on science and informed by long term cost projections. I look forward to continuing this bipartisan work that will save money and keep Americans healthy."

"Minimizing the cost of a significant and complex problem such as chronic disease is not an easy or quick endeavor," said Rep. Burgess. "Allowing the CBO to analyze scientific data, and having the ability to provide projects past the ten year scoring window will provide a more accurate projection for programs with children and other populations or diseases with longer development periods. This legislation is a responsible approach and will ensure that the government calculates the savings of preventative health."

"To address a chronic disease escalation that threatens to affect our society and economy for the next several decades, we need long-term thinking that transcends the way Congress traditionally thinks about policy and budgets. Innovations that can prevent illness and improve population health for generations shouldn't be stymied by an arbitrary 10-year budget window. The Preventive Health Savings Act will grant lawmakers the flexibility to combat cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other devastating conditions," said Mary R. Grealy, President of the Healthcare Leadership Council.

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