Bill > S699

This bill modifies the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to enhance protections and procedures for purchased/referred care (PRC), which is healthcare services provided by non-Indian Health Service medical providers. The bill establishes that patients receiving PRC are not financially liable for the costs of these services, regardless of any previously signed agreements. The Indian Health Service (IHS) must notify patients and healthcare providers of this non-liability status within 5 business days of receiving a claim. Additionally, the bill creates a reimbursement procedure allowing patients who paid out-of-pocket for authorized PRC to seek reimbursement within 30 days of submitting documentation electronically or in-person at an IHS facility. The legislation also updates numerous technical references throughout the Act, replacing terms like "contract health service" with "purchased/referred care" to standardize terminology. An important exception is made for PRC programs operated by Indian tribes under self-determination agreements, which can opt out of the reimbursement procedures. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to update the Indian Health Manual and related documents to reflect these changes within 180 days of the Act's enactment, with the new provisions applying to PRC services furnished before, on, or after the enactment date.