[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 124 (Monday, July 21, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S4493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I want to tell my colleagues and the 
public about a part of the Big Beautiful Bill that passed 2 weeks ago 
that isn't getting much attention.
  I have been a longtime supporter of health savings accounts. They 
encourage responsible utilization of healthcare services by offering 
lower cost insurance and greater flexibility of care.
  I am proud to have led the charge in the early 2000s to make health 
savings accounts accessible and a stronger option for Americans.
  Today--would you believe it--over 30 million Americans have a health 
savings account with an average balance of more than $3,000.
  Senate Republicans, through the One Big Beautiful Bill, went a step 
further, strengthening health savings accounts. First, the bill allowed 
health savings accounts to work with direct primary care service 
arrangements.
  Direct primary care is a membership-based model of care that lets 
patients choose a primary care provider of their choice and gain access 
to a suite of care options without needing to go through an insurance 
company's redtape.
  Doctors and providers, under this way, also benefit since they can 
spend more time with the patient rather than completing unnecessary 
paperwork. When patients have access to timely and high-quality primary 
care, they have better health outcomes and live longer.
  Prior to the law change, there were rules preventing consumers from 
contributing to and using health savings accounts for direct primary 
care. Direct primary care will also improve rural healthcare by 
expanding access to physicians and other healthcare providers and also 
expanding access to telehealth to reach patients in a more timely 
fashion.
  We 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.
  In addition, this will improve access and competition on the Federal 
marketplace, and that, we all know, is sorely needed.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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