Nebraska Panhandle News

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts from Nebraska has introduced the Healthy Equipping and Lending Technical Help (HEALTH) Panel Act. This legislative proposal aims to increase congressional oversight of the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) Panel of Health Advisors, which is currently criticized for its lack of bipartisanship, regional representation, and transparency in meetings.

Senator Ricketts stated, "The HEALTH Panel Act is a necessary step toward increasing congressional oversight over unelected bureaucrats." He emphasized the influence this panel has on the scoring of health-related bills and the need for it to reflect healthcare interests across America, particularly in rural areas.

Representative Buddy Carter from Georgia, who leads the act in the U.S. House of Representatives, supported Ricketts' initiative by saying, “Balancing the budget starts with understanding how new policies will impact our bottom line. The HEALTH Panel Act is a necessary, common-sense step to improve both cost estimates and congressional oversight of the CBO’s Panel of Health Advisers.”

The bill addresses concerns about the composition and operation of the CBO's health advisory panel. Established over two decades ago without statutory authority or clear guidelines on its functions or appointments, it currently operates without public meetings and lacks ideological diversity. Recent reports highlighted that many members are registered Democrats or Democratic donors.

Previously, during the last Congress session, the HEALTH Panel Act successfully passed through the House Budget Committee with full support from majority members.