The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill late last week that would partially repeal the use-it-or-lose-it rule for flexible spending account plans. The change would allow for a taxable distribution of up to $500 in unspent employee contributions remaining at the end of the plan year. Legislative attention to this somewhat obscure provision of the cafeteria-plan rules comes just days after the IRS separately announced it was evaluating whether the limitation should continue.

The bill would also repeal the PPACA restriction on reimbursement of over-the-counter drugs through health FSAs and HSAs. 

The Senate has yet to vote, but there appears to be some bipartisan support for the bill, primarily among senators -- including Democrat Al Franken of Minnesota -- who favor a separate provision that would repeal a tax on medical-device manufacturers.