Sponsors (2)
The bill aims to improve CBO's health-cost analysis and public accountability by adding an expert advisory Panel, at the trade-off of modest taxpayer cost and risks of conflicts of interest or partisan influence on advice.
Congress, taxpayers, and the federal budget process will get more accurate health-cost estimates because CBO will receive expert health technical input to improve its projections and analysis.
Lawmakers and healthcare stakeholders will benefit from broader, policy-relevant analysis because the Panel brings diverse expertise (economics, actuarial science, clinical, Medicare/Medicaid) into CBO's work.
Taxpayers and the public will have greater oversight of CBO's health-advisory process because the Panel must publish an annual report and CBO must explain how it used the recommendations.
Taxpayers and patients could face biased analyses if Panel members have conflicts of interest and disclosures or safeguards are insufficient, risking recommendations skewed toward special interests.
Taxpayers and the congressional budget process may see Panel recommendations and CBO priorities shaped by partisan appointments, risking politicization of otherwise technical analyses.
Taxpayers will incur modest additional administrative costs and CBO staff will face added workload to support the Panel and publish reports.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds a 15-member advisory Panel to CBO to improve its health studies, models, analyses, and cost estimates and requires an annual public report on recommendations and usage.
Official title: To amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to codify the Panel of Health Advisors within the Congressional Budget Office, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 28, 2025 by Buddy Carter · Last progress January 28, 2025
Creates a 15-member Panel of Health Advisors housed at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide technical expertise and recommendations to improve CBO’s health and health-care studies, models, analyses, and cost estimates. The Panel will meet at least annually, produce an annual report with recommendations approved by a majority of members, and the CBO Director must describe how recommendations were used and publish the report on CBO’s website. Members serve as special government employees, are appointed by congressional budget committee leaders and the CBO Director, serve staggered three-year terms (with a two-term limit), and must observe conflict-of-interest disclosures and confidentiality rules set by the Director.