On May 20, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Dietary Supplements Access Act, legislation that would allow dietary supplements to be purchased using HSAs (Health Savings Accounts), FSAs (Flexible Spending Accounts), and HRAs (Health Reimbursement Arrangements).
The measure is designed to give families more flexibility to invest in preventative health solutions while helping to reduce long-term health care costs.
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Internal Revenue Code to designate over-the-counter dietary supplements as qualified medical expenses. Under the proposal, individuals can use up to $250 annually from their health accounts for supplements while joint filers could use up to $500.
“Nutritional supplements are a crucial form of preventative care, keeping people healthier in the long run and, ultimately, driving down healthcare costs,” Cramer said. “But right now, the rules don’t fully reflect this reality. By modernizing how health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts can be used, this bill gives families more freedom, more choice, and more ability to invest in their own wellbeing.”
“Dietary supplements are an important part of many Utahns’ health and wellness routines, and are key to making America healthy again,” Curtis added. “By expanding access to supplements through HSAs and FSAs, our legislation empowers individuals to take greater ownership of their health while helping reduce long-term health care costs.”
The Natural Products Association (NPA), Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) and Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) announced their support for the bill.
“The Natural Products Association applauds Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Curtis for introducing the Dietary Supplements Access Act,” said Daniel Fabricant, PhD, president and CEO of NPA. “This commonsense legislation recognizes the important role dietary supplements play in supporting the health and wellness of millions of Americans. At a time when consumers are increasingly focused on proactive, preventive approaches to health care, Congress should be empowering Americans to use their own Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) dollars for products that help them maintain and improve their health. The Dietary Supplements Access Act is a practical, consumer-focused step that would expand access to supplements, increase their affordability, and provide families with greater flexibility in making personal healthcare decisions. Dietary supplements are already used daily by millions of Americans as part of their wellness routines, and allowing these products to qualify as eligible medical expenses simply aligns federal policy with how consumers already approach their health. NPA looks forward to working with Congress to advance this important legislation and continue expanding access to safe, regulated dietary supplements for American consumers.”
“At a time when more science is supporting the use of dietary supplements to maintain health and wellness, expanding HSA and FSA eligibility to include supplements is smart health care policy,” said CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville. “Giving consumers the ability to use their own pre-tax dollars to purchase supplements makes health care more affordable and accessible and empowers Americans to take a more proactive approach to their health and wellness. This legislation builds on bipartisan efforts to expand access to trusted self-care products, and CHPA applauds Senator Cramer for championing greater flexibility and affordability for consumers.”
“CRN strongly supports the Dietary Supplements Access Act because it reflects a modern understanding of health care—one that recognizes the important role dietary supplements can play in supporting health and wellness,” said Steve Mister, president and CEO of CRN. “Consumers increasingly use supplements as part of their proactive health regimens, yet current tax policy has failed to keep pace with how Americans approach preventive care. This legislation helps empower consumers to make health investments using the same tax-advantaged tools already available for many other wellness and medical expenses.”
For more information, visit www.npanational.org, www.chpa.org or www.crnusa.org.
