00:00I want to tell my colleagues and the public about a part of the big beautiful bill that
00:14passed two weeks ago that isn't getting much attention.
00:20I've been a longtime supporter of health savings accounts.
00:26They encourage responsible utilization of health care services by offering lower cost insurance
00:34and greater flexibility of care.
00:37I'm proud to have led the charge in the early 2000s to make health savings accounts accessible
00:47and a stronger option for Americans.
00:51Today, would you believe it, over 30 million Americans have a health savings account
00:59with an average balance of more than $3,000.
01:05Senate Republicans, through the one big beautiful bill, went a step further, strengthening health savings accounts.
01:16First, the bill allowed health savings accounts to work with direct primary care service arrangements.
01:29Direct primary care is a membership-based model of care that lets patients choose a primary care provider of their choice
01:40and gain access to a suite of care options without needing to go through an insurance company's red tape.
01:51Doctors and providers under this way also benefit since they can spend more time with the patient
02:02rather than completing unnecessary paperwork.
02:07When patients have access to timely and high-quality primary care, they have better health outcomes and live longer.
02:18Prior to the law change, there were rules preventing consumers from contributing to and using a health savings account for direct primary care.
02:32Direct primary care will also improve rural health care by expanding access to physicians and other health care providers
02:41and also expanding access to telehealth to reach patients in a more timely fashion.
02:50We also allow individuals who have purchased a catastrophic or bronze health plan on the federal marketplace to now contribute to and use a health savings account.
03:12In addition, this will improve access and competition on the federal marketplace.
03:19And that, we all know, is sorely needed.
03:23I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quarrel.
