Rep. Kennedy Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Medical Billing Burden on Native American Patients

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Mike Kennedy, M.D. (UT-03) introduced H.R. 8658, the Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act to give American Indian and Alaska Native patients a fair window to handle paperwork after a medical emergency. The bill extends the Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) notification deadline from 72 hours to 15 days. It is a commonsense fix that prevents patients from being saddled with bills simply because they were focused on getting well.

"When a family is dealing with a medical emergency, the last thing they should worry about is paperwork," said Congressman Mike Kennedy. "As a physician, I've seen how chaotic those first hours and days can be. This bill gives American Indian and Alaska Native patients the time they need to focus on the emergency, not red tape, and protects them from medical bills they should never receive in the first place."

Background

The Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act :

• Extends the notification window from 72 hours to 15 days for Indian Health Service (IHS) patients who receive emergency care from a non-IHS provider.
• Gives patients and families more time to notify IHS after an emergency, when paperwork is often unrealistic and medical needs are the immediate priority.
• Helps protect American Indian and Alaska Native patients from being left with medical bills or collections because of a short administrative deadline.
• Maintains the existing 30-day notification window for elderly or disabled patients.ground

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is the federal agency responsible for providing medical care to American Indians and Alaska Natives. When IHS patients need care that cannot be provided directly through the IHS system, the Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) program covers the cost of care provided outside of IHS medical facilities. The PRC program must be notified of any request for authorization of payment for health care services from a non-IHS provider. If a patient fails to fulfill the notification requirement, the burden of cost falls on them.

Currently, when a patient receives emergency medical care from a non-IHS provider or at a non-IHS facility, the patient, someone acting on the patient's behalf, or the medical provider generally must notify the appropriate PRC authorizing official within 72 hours after treatment begins or after admission to the facility. If that notification requirement is not met, PRC payment may be denied, leaving patients at risk of receiving bills for care that should otherwise be covered.

The Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act extends the PRC notification window from 72 hours to 15 days. This change gives patients and families more time to navigate the PRC process after a medical emergency, when paperwork is often unrealistic and medical needs are the immediate priority. The bill does not reduce or alter the existing 30-day notification period for elderly or disabled patients.

Read the full bill text here.