” . Obernolte, Carter introduce bipartisan Preventative Health Savings Act By Ripon Advance News Service | July 21, 2025 U.S. Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Buddy Carter (R-GA) on July 16 offered a bipartisan bill that would update how Congress evaluates the fiscal impact of preventive healthcare policies. “Our budget process should reward forward planning, not penalize it,” said Rep. Obernolte, who sponsored the Preventative Health Savings Act, H.R. 4464, alongside three original cosponsors, including Rep. Carter and U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). If enacted, H.R. 4464 would establish a mechanism within existing law for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to assess long-term budgetary savings from preventive healthcare legislation over a 30-year window. Under current rules, the CBO primarily scores legislation within a 10-year budget window — an approach that often overlooks the full financial benefits of policies aimed at improving long-term health outcomes, according to the lawmakers. “By enabling the CBO to account for long-term savings from preventive health care, this legislation brings much-needed precision and responsibility to how Congress evaluates public health investments,” Rep. Obernolte said. “It’s a common-sense reform that enables smarter federal health investments to strengthen both our healthcare system and the long-term fiscal health of our country.” By allowing for long-range budget estimates, the bill aims to support evidence-based investments in public health and promote policies that both improve healthcare outcomes and reduce long-term federal health expenditures, the lawmakers added. “CBO does not currently have the tools it needs to effectively score healthcare legislation,” said Rep. Carter. “By providing it with assessment tools that weigh the value of preventative care, including treatment, prevention, and screening, we will have a more complete understanding of how taxpayer dollars are being used and will deliver better healthcare policies for patients.” H.R. 4464 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Budget Committee. “The Preventive Health Savings Act will save our country money and significantly improve how Congress considers preventive health policy,” said Rep. DeGette. “With better assessments from CBO, there will be more informed decisions on the long-term costs of illness and care.” Post navigation ← Previous Article This entry was posted by Ripon Advance News Service. Bookmark the permalink. . ”
