CHPA advocates restoring OTC eligibility under flexible spending accounts

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Friday submitted a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, thanking the Administration for its recent efforts to enhance flexible savings arrangements’ benefits, the association announced. The association is asking the Administration to take a further step and support restoring over-the-counter medicines’ eligibility under tax-preferred accounts including FSAs and health savings accounts. 

“We applaud the Administration for its efforts to revisit options that serve in the best interest of consumers meeting their healthcare needs,” Scott Melville, CHPA president and CEO said. “While the recent announcement allowing consumers to roll over as much $500 in their flexible spending arrangements is a step in the right direction, more must be done," he said. “We are calling on Congress and the Administration to lift the restrictions on consumers’ ability to use tax-preferred accounts to purchase OTC medicines that millions rely on for their healthcare needs. Reversing this restriction and restoring eligibility of OTC medicines under FSAs and HSAs is a straightforward step that will assist American families in securing affordable healthcare.”

CHPA supports the bipartisan, bicameral Restoring Access to Medication Act (S. 1647/H.R. 2835) introduced by Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., in the Senate and Reps. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan., and John Barrow, D-Ga., in the House of Representatives. The association’s letter urged the Administration to support this measure.