US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 7516 — what changed

Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2024

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 1 section amended and 1 added between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Sec. 2 Changes to liability for payment

(a)
added In general— Section 222 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1621u) is amended—

removed Section 222 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1621u) is amended—

(1)
renumbered was (3) in subsection (a)—
(A)
added by striking “A patient” and inserting “Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any agreement, form, or other written or electronic document signed by a patient, a patient”; and
(B)
added by striking “contract health care” and inserting “purchased/referred care”;
(A)
removed by striking “A patient” and inserting “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a patient”;
(B)
removed by striking “contract health care” and inserting “or has received purchased/referred care”; and
(C)
removed by inserting “or were” after “that are”;
(2)
renumbered was (4) in subsection (b)—
(A)
renumbered was (4)(2) by striking “contract care” each place it appears and inserting “purchased/referred care”;
(B)
renumbered was (4)(3) by striking “contract health care” and inserting “purchased/referred care”;
(C)
added by inserting “, notwithstanding any other provision of law or any agreement, form, or other written or electronic document signed by a patient,” after “by the Service that”; and
(C)
removed by inserting “, notwithstanding any other provision of law,” after “by the Service that”; and
(D)
renumbered was (4)(5) by inserting “to any provider, debt collector, or any other person” after “is not liable”;
(3)
renumbered was (5) in subsection (c), by inserting “, the debt collector, or any other person, as applicable” after “the provider”; and
(4)
renumbered was (6) by adding at the end the following:

“(d) Reimbursement

added “(1) In general—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection and in consultation with Indian Tribes, the Secretary shall establish and implement procedures to allow a patient that paid out-of-pocket for purchased/referred care services authorized by the Service under this Act to be reimbursed by the Service for that payment not later than 30 days after the patient submits documentation to the Service pursuant to paragraph (2).

added “(2) Submitting documentation—The Secretary shall accept documentation from a patient seeking reimbursement under paragraph (1) that was submitted—

removed “(1) In general—Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Service shall establish and implement procedures to allow a patient that paid out-of-pocket for purchased/referred care services authorized by the Service under this Act to be reimbursed by the Service for that payment not later than 30 days after the patient submits documentation to the Service pursuant to paragraph (2).

removed “(2) Submitting documentation—The Service shall accept documentation from a patient seeking reimbursement under paragraph (1) that was submitted—

“(A) electronically; or

added “(B) in-person at a Service facility.

added “(3) Effect—The preceding provisions of this subsection shall not apply to purchased/referred care service furnished under a purchased/referred care services program operated by an Indian Tribe under an Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) compact or contract unless expressly agreed to by the Indian Tribe.

added “(e) Updating authorities—Not later than 180 days of the enactment of this subsection and in consultation with Indian Tribes, the Secretary shall update applicable provisions of and exhibits to the Indian Health Manual, contracts with providers, and other relevant documents and administrative authorities to incorporate the provisions of this section.”

(b)
added Application— The amendments made by this section shall apply to purchased/referred care services authorized by the Indian Health Service furnished on, before, or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

removed “(B) in-person at a Service facility.”

Sec. 3 Technical amendments

added
(a)
added Definitions— Section 4(5) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603) is amended by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through “means” and inserting the following:

added “(5) Purchased/referred care—The term “purchased/referred care” means”

(b)
added Technical amendments— The Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended by striking “contract health service” each place it appears (regardless of casing and typeface and including in the headings) and inserting “purchased/referred care” (with appropriate casing and typeface).
(c)
added Updating authorities— The Secretary of Health and Human Services is directed to ensure that the Indian Health Manual and all other relevant rules, guidance, manuals, and other materials are revised such that “contract health service”, each place it appears (regardless of casing and typeface and including in the headings) is revised to read “purchased/referred care” (with appropriate casing and typeface).