Sponsors (2)
The bill creates a technically expert, transparent advisory Panel to improve CBO's health cost estimates and policy relevance, while imposing modest taxpayer costs and introducing risks of conflicts of interest and partisan influence that could compromise impartiality.
Congress, taxpayers, and policymakers will get independent, multidisciplinary health technical expertise (economics, actuarial science, clinical, Medicare/Medicaid) to inform CBO cost estimates and projections, improving accuracy and policy relevance of budget analyses.
Taxpayers and the public will have greater transparency and accountability because the Panel must publish an annual report and explain how its recommendations were used by CBO.
Taxpayers will bear modest additional administrative costs and CBO staff workload to support the Panel and produce required reports.
Patients and taxpayers could face biased analyses if Panel members have conflicts of interest and disclosure or safeguards are insufficient, allowing special interests to influence CBO advice.
Taxpayers and the congressional budget process risk politicization because appointment authorities (committee chairs and ranking members) create potential for partisan influence over Panel composition and recommendations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a 15-member advisory Panel within CBO to provide technical advice and annual, public recommendations to improve CBO’s health and health-care analyses.
Creates a 15-member Panel of Health Advisors housed at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide expert technical advice and recommendations to improve CBO’s health and health-care studies, models, analyses, and cost estimates. The Panel must meet at least annually, deliver an annual report with recommendations approved by a supermajority, and the CBO Director must publish that report and explain how recommendations were used. Members serve as special government employees, are appointed by the House and Senate Budget Committee leaders and the CBO Director (three appointments each plus three by the Director), serve staggered three-year terms (limit two terms), and must be appointed within 90 days of enactment; the Director may set conflict-of-interest and confidentiality rules.
Introduced January 28, 2025 by Buddy Carter · Last progress January 28, 2025