Summary

Creates a 15-member Panel of Health Advisors housed within the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide technical and functional expertise to improve CBO studies, analyses, and cost estimates related to health and health care. The Panel must meet at least annually and send an annual report with recommendations approved by a supermajority and a CBO Director statement on how recommendations were used; the Director must publish the report on CBO’s website. Sets appointment rules, terms, and ethics/confidentiality provisions: 15 members appointed by the budget committee chairs and ranking members of both chambers and by the CBO Director; members serve as special government employees for three-year staggered terms (renewable once), with term limits, vacancy rules, and Director designation of chair/vice chair based on fitness without regard to political affiliation.

• Creates a 15-member Health Advisory Panel inside the CBO to improve health-related analyses and cost estimates.
• Panel must meet at least annually and provide an annual report with recommendations approved by at least nine members.
• CBO Director must include a statement on how recommendations were used and publish the report on CBO’s website.
• Members serve as special government employees, with three-year staggered terms and a two-term (6-year) maximum.
• Appointment split: three appointees each from House Budget chair, House Budget ranking member, Senate Budget chair, Senate Budget ranking member, and three by the CBO Director.
• Director may require public conflict-of-interest disclosures and confidentiality agreements for Panel members.
• Vacancy appointments are made by the original appointing authority; appointees to vacancies serve remainder of term.
• Chair and vice chair are designated by the CBO Director based on fitness and without regard to political affiliation.
• Creates reporting and transparency requirements but does not appropriate funds or change federal tax rules.