Sponsors (2)
The bill improves CBO health-policy analysis and public transparency by bringing in external experts, but it risks biased estimates unless conflicts of interest among panelists are carefully disclosed and managed.
Taxpayers, state governments, hospitals and health systems, and health policy researchers will get more accurate CBO cost estimates and analyses because CBO will receive regular input from recognized experts (finance, actuarial, providers, Medicare/Medicaid), which can improve federal policymaking and program design.
Taxpayers will gain greater transparency because the expert panel must produce annual public reports showing recommendations and how CBO used them in analyses.
Taxpayers and patients (especially those with chronic conditions) could face biased or skewed CBO estimates if panel members have outside industry ties that are not fully disclosed or effectively managed, reducing the reliability of analyses that guide policy.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a 15-member CBO Panel of Health Advisors to give technical advice and annual recommendations to improve CBO’s health analyses and cost estimates.
Introduced May 22, 2025 by John Peter Ricketts · Last progress May 22, 2025
Creates a 15-member Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Panel of Health Advisors housed within CBO to provide technical and functional expertise and recommendations to improve CBO studies, analyses, and cost estimates related to health and health care. The panel must meet at least annually and deliver a public annual report with recommendations approved by a supermajority of its members and a Director’s description of how recommendations were used. Members are appointed by the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Budget Committees (three each) and by the CBO Director (three); they serve as special government employees in staggered 3-year terms (up to two terms). The Director may set conflict-of-interest disclosure and confidentiality rules, designate chair/vice chair, and must publish the panel’s annual report on CBO’s website.