To ensure Native Americans have access to reliable, quality health care, congressional Republicans on Sept. 21 introduced a bicameral bill that would increase transparency and accountability at the federal Indian Health Service (IHS).
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) introduced the Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2022, H.R. 8937/S. 4915.
“Our bill would make several critical improvements to the delivery of care at IHS facilities in South Dakota and around the country, and it would hold IHS accountable to Congress and, more importantly, the tribal members they serve,” Sen. Thune said. “I look forward to continuing to work with members of the South Dakota tribes and my colleagues in Congress to do everything we can to fix the severely broken IHS system once and for all.”
If enacted, the bill would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a competitive pay system for physicians and certain other healthcare professionals and authorize HHS to establish a tenant-based rental assistance program for IHS employees who agree to work at a service unit for at least one or two years, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“For far too long, the Indian Health Service has failed to provide adequate and reliable health care to tribal members,” said Sen. Rounds. “This legislation would work to reform IHS to increase accountability and transparency at the agency. Real change needs to happen so IHS can deliver the care the federal government has a trust and treaty obligation to provide to tribal members.”
Additionally, the bill would direct IHS to establish, in consultation with Indian tribes and stakeholders, a uniform, centralized, service-wide credentialing system for health professionals providing services at IHS service units, and provide HHS with direct hire authority for IHS positions, the summary says.
“Our tribal communities deserve access to efficient, safe, and high-quality care through the IHS,” Rep. Johnson said. “The Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act modernizes the IHS credentialing system and allows IHS to more quickly remove employees who have a history of misconduct. I am proud to advocate and support South Dakota’s tribes along with my Senate colleagues to ensure that shortcomings of the IHS are addressed and remedied.”
U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and John Hoeven (R-ND) joined Sen. Thune and Sen. Rounds as cosponsors of S. 4915, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY). Rep. Johnson sponsored H.R. 8937.