U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Ron Estes (R-KS) offered legislation on Jan. 27 to strengthen congressional oversight of, and statutory authority for, the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) Panel of Health Advisers, which advises the CBO on issues pertaining to healthcare policy.
The core purpose of the CBO Panel of Health Advisers, which consists of healthcare experts and stakeholders, is to provide technical and functional expertise and recommendations to CBO to improve its studies, analyses, and cost estimates related to healthcare issues and policies, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Rep. Carter sponsored the Healthy Equipping and Lending Technical Help (HEALTH) Panel Act, H.R. 751, with lead original cosponsor Rep. Estes, to help improve the accuracy of the CBO’s scores on bills related to health care.
“Balancing the budget starts with understanding how new policies will impact our bottom line,” Rep. Carter said. “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 that Congress can craft effective legislation with a full and accurate understanding of its budgetary impacts.”
Specifically, H.R. 751 would codify the Panel of Health Advisers within the CBO, establish congressional appointment authority, and require an annual report to the Budget Committees in Congress detailing the panel’s work and recommendations, the summary says.
“As our nation faces a $36 trillion debt and climbing, it’s absolutely critical that lawmakers have accurate information about various facets of American industries, including health care,” said Rep. Estes, adding that the bill would better define the roles and expectations for the advisory group.
“I’m grateful that Rep. Buddy Carter has reintroduced this legislation that ensures experts in the medical field are providing appropriate guidance and insight to CBO,” Rep. Estes added.