McSally proposes bill to ensure coverage of chronic disease prevention services

U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues in offering legislation that would permit high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to provide chronic disease prevention services to plan enrollees prior to satisfying their plan deductible. 

“Arizonans living with chronic diseases often face cost barriers in getting the medical care they need,” Sen. McSally said. “Our bipartisan bill would allow individuals with high deductible health plans to exercise greater flexibility, more effectively use their plan, and better manage their health at lower costs.”

On Jan. 15 Sen. McSally was one of five original cosponsors including U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) of the Chronic Disease Management Act of 2020, S. 3200, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) to ensure HDHPs that are used with health savings accounts can cover care related to chronic disease management prior to a beneficiary reaching their plan deductible.

If enacted, S. 3200 would permit such coverage for any service or item used to treat an individual with a chronic condition if, among several provisions, “the specific service or use of the item will prevent the exacerbation of the chronic condition or the development of a secondary condition that requires significantly higher cost treatments,’’ according to the text of the bill. 

The legislation follows a July 2019 notice issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to expand its interpretation of what constitutes preventive care to include certain items and services that are prescribed to someone with certain chronic conditions. The IRS list is incorporated into S. 3200 and considers such items or services as preventive when they are prescribed to an individual with certain chronic conditions and if they are low-cost, among other criteria.

“Allowing high-deductible health plans to cover more preventative care will save Arizona families thousands of dollars in medical costs every year, making health care more affordable for everyday Arizonans,” said Sen. Sinema.  

The bill has been referred to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee for consideration.