BGOV Bill Analysis: H.R. 1418, Indian Health Service Payments

Health-care providers, debt collectors, and other entities would be prohibited from billing patients for care authorized by the Indian Health Service under H.R. 1418.

The measure would strengthen existing laws to prevent eligible Native Americans and Alaska Natives from being forced to pay for purchased and referred care that’s been approved by IHS. It also would require IHS to reimburse patients that pay any out-of-pocket medical bills for authorized care.

Under the Purchased/Referred Care program, IHS can refer patients to private medical providers when it’s unable to directly provide certain medical services, including emergency and specialist treatments. IHS then ...