(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) and several of its member companies who manufacture and market leading over-the-counter (OTC) oral care products, including Colgate-Palmolive, Haleon, Kenvue, Lornamead, Procter & Gamble, and Sanofi, joined Members of Congress on Capitol Hill this week to celebrate the introduction of HR 8599, the Oral Health Products Inclusion Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) that will enable millions of Americans to utilize their tax-preferred Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) funds to improve their oral health.
Poor oral hygiene can lead to chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, COPD, and liver disease, driving up expenses for Americans and further straining our already-overburdened healthcare system. These problems worsen for low-income, undereducated, and rural Americans who face additional challenges and often seek emergency or urgent oral care from non-dentists.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, including the way people think about self-care. And as the self-care industry has rapidly evolved from an emphasis on treatment to an emphasis on prevention, these growing, and highly popular personal accounts should be eligible as a resource that encourages people to take charge of their own health. H.R. 8599 builds upon a bipartisan victory achieved at the height of the pandemic through the passage of the CARES Act, which reinstated the ability for Americans to purchase OTC medicines and feminine care products using FSA/HSA funds. It additionally builds on legislation previously introduced this Congress, the Dietary Supplements Access Act, which would extend the same eligibility to nutritional supplements.
“There’s no better messenger on the value of oral care to public health than our member company leaders who manufacture and market oral care products. Their daily interaction with consumers and healthcare professionals, and their knowledge of the science behind oral care provides great insights on the essential value of these products, and that’s what they shared with policymakers during our Hill visit this week,” said CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville. “CHPA was honored to celebrate the recent introduction of this legislation and the close relationship our industry has developed with policymakers throughout our association’s history, a partnership driven by a single goal: empowering people to pursue happier, healthier lives through responsible self-care. By building upon previous legislative victories to also make everyday, essential oral care products more accessible, this legislation is a holistic approach to personal care that will empower Americans to better manage their dental health needs. Sending a special thank you to all our congressional self-care champions for their continued leadership on the issues that have helped the self-care industry make tremendous contributions to public health on behalf of America’s consumers.”
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Background
The Oral Health Products Inclusion Act (H.R. 8599) was introduced by U.S. Reps. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) on June 4. This bipartisan legislation builds upon a 2020 legislative victory which reinstated the ability for consumers to use their FSA/HSA accounts to purchase OTC products, and for the first time, feminine care products, through the passage of the CARES Act. If enacted, H.R. 8599 would make certain oral care items, including toothbrushes, water flossers, anti-cavity toothpaste, mouthwash, and similar oral care products “qualified medical expenses” that can be purchased with FSA and HSA funds. In addition to CHPA, this legislation is also supported by the American Dental Association (ADA).
The bill sponsors were joined by representatives from CHPA’s member companies: Colgate-Palmolive (makers of Colgate® products), Haleon (makers of Sensodyne® products), Kenvue (makers of LISTERINE® products), Lornamead (makers of Natural White® products), Procter & Gamble (makers of Crest® products), and Sanofi (makers of ACT® products).
