Legislation offered earlier this week by U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) aims to reform tribal healthcare credentialing and reform the Indian Health Service (IHS).
“Due to a lack of a standardized credentialing system for tribal healthcare professionals, our Native American population is struggling to receive appropriate care,” said Rep. Newhouse, who on July 9 sponsored the Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2024, H.R. 8956, alongside lead original cosponsor Rep. Johnson.
If enacted, H.R. 8956 would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to improve the recruitment and retention of IHS employees, restore accountability in the IHS, and improve health services, among other provisions, according to the bill’s text.
“Tribal communities deserve access to efficient, safe, and high-quality care through the IHS,” said Rep. Johnson. “This bill would bring necessary changes to improve the quality of service and care for tribal members.”
Specifically, the bill would incentivize IHS staff recruitment and retention by establishing a competitive pay system and expanding eligibility for IHS loan repayment program, and it would bolster information-sharing practices between IHS and state medical boards on provider professional conduct violations, according to a summary provided by the lawmakers.
Additionally, H.R. 8956 would establish a tribal consultation policy with IHS, direct IHS to establish standards for timeliness of care, protect whistleblowers from retaliation, require reports on spending at all levels of IHS, and would require the U.S. Health and Human Services Department Inspector General to report on patient harm/deaths and deferrals/denials of care in IHS units, the summary says.
“The current system has led to a backlog in onboarding new providers, which has caused those interested in working for IHS to pursue opportunities elsewhere,” Rep. Newhouse said. “There have also been numerous incidents where healthcare professionals with histories of malpractice claims have bypassed the guardrails put in place to make sure medical professionals are just that — professionals.
“The IHS is receiving taxpayer dollars to fund their operation, and it is my priority to ensure those resources are not wasted,” he added. “By creating a centralized system, we can establish a standard for tribes and ensure that providers at IHS facilities are vetted in an efficient and proper manner.”
U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and John Thune (R-SD) are leading similar legislation in the U.S. Senate.