Bill to Increase Consumer Choice and Reduce Health Care Costs Reintroduced

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced that he has reintroduced legislation that would allow dietary supplements to be purchased with Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA), and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA). The legislation, which amends the Internal Revenue Code to designate certain over-the-counter dietary supplement products and foods for special dietary uses as qualified medical expenses, is endorsed by the Natural Products Association (NPA), Swanson Health Products, and the Healthcare Nutrition Council.

“Nutritional supplements are preventative care, helping lower health care costs by keeping Americans healthy,” said Senator Cramer, in a press release. “By modernizing the rules for savings and spending accounts, my bill would save taxpayer funds, increase consumer choice, and encourage people to invest in their health and wellness.”

Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., President and CEO of NPA, added, “Expanding access to nutritional supplements is an innovative solution aimed at keeping more Americans healthy. For years, Senator Cramer has been a natural product industry champion. Senator Cramer is incentivizing healthy choices and expanding consumer choice by introducing legislation making dietary supplements eligible for reimbursement under Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Arrangements, and Health Reimbursement Arrangements. NPA is grateful for Senator Cramer’s leadership and is excited to continue working with him to expand access to nutritional supplements.”

NPA has spotlighted the significant impact greater access can have on public health. As WholeFoods Magazine has reported, the association presented data showing 95% of adults and 98% of teens have an inadequate vitamin D intake and 61% of adults and 90% of teens do not get enough magnesium.

Also expressing support of the legislation, Jim Hamel, CEO of Swanson Health Products, said, “At Swanson Health Products we champion the benefits of the complementary nutrition that vitamins and dietary supplements can offer. We applaud and support Senator Cramer’s initiative to expand U.S. consumers’ access to proactive additions that help people take charge of their health and wellness.”

Consumers Want Greater Access to Dietary Supplements

As WholeFoods has reported, in April 2023, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) announced the findings of a jointly-commissioned Ipsos survey that explored people’s understanding of how their FSAs and HSAs are used and how they should work, specifically regarding the purchase of dietary supplements. Results of the 2023 HSA & FSA Reimbursement Study confirm that 78% of Americans who currently have an FSA or HSA want the flexibility to choose how best to use their pre-tax dollars to stay healthy by using these accounts to purchase dietary supplements.

Industry leaders also are working on a collaborative and ongoing effort to persuade Congress to make vitamin D3 eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits, which is part of the Farm Bill’s many programs. Karen Howard, CEO and Executive Director of Organic & Natural Health Association, offers an update on the “All 4 Vitamin D” campaign here.