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AOA Urges Review of FSA/OTC Restrictions

4-26-12-feder.JPGApril 27, 2012:

On April 25, 2012, AOA member Joel M. Feder, DO, of Leawood, Kan., testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight. The hearing was held to examine the impact of the new restrictions created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

These restrictions affect the use of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA). Key points:

  • Before the PPACA's new measures went into effect, consumers could use money from an FSA, HSA or HRA to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medications without a prescription.

  • Under the current legislation, however, patients buying OTC medications are required to obtain a prescription from their physician in order to use a tax-advantaged account for the purchase.

In his testimony, Dr. Feder urged lawmakers to review the current restrictions, stating they are "counterintuitive to enhancing access to health care and promoting patient-centered care." The AOA supports restoring consumers' ability to use tax-advantaged accounts to purchase most OTC medications without a physician’s prescription. Learn how to take action on this issue or get involved in the AOA’s other advocacy efforts.

 

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