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To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit expenditures from health savings accounts, flexible spending arrangements, and health reimbursement arrangements for dietary supplements.

12/31/2022, 9:00 AM

Summary of Bill HR 5214

Bill 117 hr 5214, also known as the Dietary Supplement Health Savings Act of 2021, aims to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals to use funds from their health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending arrangements (FSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to purchase dietary supplements.

Currently, these accounts can only be used for qualified medical expenses, such as doctor visits, prescription medications, and certain medical procedures. This bill seeks to expand the list of eligible expenses to include dietary supplements, which are vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other substances intended to supplement the diet.

Proponents of the bill argue that dietary supplements can play a role in promoting overall health and wellness, and that individuals should have the freedom to use their health-related funds to purchase these products. They believe that this change will encourage individuals to take a more proactive approach to their health and well-being. Opponents of the bill raise concerns about the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements, as they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the same way that prescription medications are. They worry that allowing individuals to use their health-related funds to purchase these products could lead to misuse and potentially harmful outcomes. Overall, the Dietary Supplement Health Savings Act of 2021 is a controversial piece of legislation that seeks to expand the allowable uses of health-related funds to include dietary supplements. It will be important for lawmakers to carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of this proposal before making a decision on its passage.

Congressional Summary of HR 5214

This bill allows expenditures from health savings accounts and flexible spending and health reimbursement arrangements for dietary supplements (i.e., products, other than tobacco, intended to supplement the diet that bear or contain either vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, or an amino acid, and are labeled as dietary supplements).

Current Status of Bill HR 5214

Bill HR 5214 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since September 10, 2021. Bill HR 5214 was introduced during Congress 117 and was introduced to the House on September 10, 2021.  Bill HR 5214's most recent activity was Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. as of September 10, 2021

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 5214

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
6
Democrat Cosponsors
2
Republican Cosponsors
4
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 5214

Primary Policy Focus

Taxation

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 5214

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit expenditures from health savings accounts, flexible spending arrangements, and health reimbursement arrangements for dietary supplements.
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit expenditures from health savings accounts, flexible spending arrangements, and health reimbursement arrangements for dietary supplements.

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