Page 457 TITLE 25—INDIANS § 1631

Stat. 2206, as amended, which is classified principally

to part A (§450f et seq.) of subchapter II of chapter 14

of this title. For complete classification of this Act to

the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 450

of this title and Tables.

§ 1621s. Prompt action on payment of claims

(a) Time of response

The Service shall respond to a notification of

a claim by a provider of a contract care service

with either an individual purchase order or a denial of the claim within 5 working days after the

receipt of such notification.

(b) Failure to timely respond

If the Service fails to respond to a notification

of a claim in accordance with subsection (a) of

this section, the Service shall accept as valid

the claim submitted by the provider of a contract care service.

(c) Time of payment

The Service shall pay a completed contract

care service claim within 30 days after completion of the claim.

(Pub. L. 94–437, title II, §220, as added Pub. L.

102–573, title II, §215, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4558.)

§ 1621t. Demonstration of electronic claims processing

(a) Not later than June 15, 1993, the Secretary

shall develop and implement, directly or by contract, 2 projects to demonstrate in a pilot setting the use of claims processing technology to

improve the accuracy and timeliness of the billing for, and payment of, contract health services.

(b) The Secretary shall conduct one of the

projects authorized in subsection (a) of this section in the Service area served by the area office

located in Phoenix, Arizona.

(Pub. L. 94–437, title II, §221, as added Pub. L.

102–573, title II, §215, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4559.)

§ 1621u. Liability for payment

(a) A patient who receives contract health

care services that are authorized by the Service

shall not be liable for the payment of any

charges or costs associated with the provision of

such services.

(b) The Secretary shall notify a contract care

provider and any patient who receives contract

health care services authorized by the Service

that such patient is not liable for the payment

of any charges or costs associated with the provision of such services.

(Pub. L. 94–437, title II, §222, as added Pub. L.

102–573, title II, §215, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4559.)

§ 1621v. Office of Indian Women’s Health Care

There is established within the Service an Office of Indian Women’s Health Care to oversee

efforts of the Service to monitor and improve

the quality of health care for Indian women of

all ages through the planning and delivery of

programs administered by the Service, in order

to improve and enhance the treatment models of

care for Indian women.

(Pub. L. 94–437, title II, §223, as added Pub. L.

102–573, title II, §216, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4559.)

§ 1621w. Authorization of appropriations

Except as provided in sections 1621h(m), 1621j,

1621l, 1621m(b)(5), 1621n, and 1621o of this title,

there are authorized to be appropriated such

sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year

through fiscal year 2000 to carry out this subchapter.

(Pub. L. 94–437, title II, §224, as added Pub. L.

102–573, title II, §217(a), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat.

4559.)

§ 1621x. Limitation on use of funds

Amounts appropriated to carry out this subchapter may not be used in a manner inconsistent with the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997 [42 U.S.C. 14401 et seq.].

(Pub. L. 94–437, title II, §225, as added Pub. L.

105–12, §9(f), Apr. 30, 1997, 111 Stat. 27.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

The Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997,

referred to in text, is Pub. L. 105–12, Apr. 30, 1997, 111

Stat. 23, which is classified principally to chapter 138

(§14401 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the

Code, see Short Title note set out under section 14401

of Title 42 and Tables.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Section effective Apr. 30, 1997, and applicable to Federal payments made pursuant to obligations incurred

after Apr. 30, 1997, for items and services provided on or

after such date, subject to also being applicable with

respect to contracts entered into, renewed, or extended

after Apr. 30, 1997, as well as contracts entered into before Apr. 30, 1997, to the extent permitted under such

contracts, see section 11 of Pub. L. 105–12, set out as a

note under section 14401 of Title 42, The Public Health

and Welfare.

§ 1622. Transferred

CODIFICATION

Section, Pub. L. 94–437, title IV, §404, as added Pub.

L. 96–537, §6, Dec. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 3176, which related

to grants to and contracts with tribal organizations,

was transferred to section 1644 of this title.

SUBCHAPTER III—HEALTH FACILITIES

§ 1631. Consultation; closure of facilities; reports

(a) Consultation; standards for accreditation

Prior to the expenditure of, or the making of

any firm commitment to expend, any funds appropriated for the planning, design, construction, or renovation of facilities pursuant to section 13 of this title, the Secretary, acting

through the Service, shall—

(1) consult with any Indian tribe that would

be significantly affected by such expenditure

for the purpose of determining and, whenever

practicable, honoring tribal preferences concerning size, location, type, and other characteristics of any facility on which such expenditure is to be made, and

(2) ensure, whenever practicable, that such

facility meets the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations by not later than 1 year after the

date on which the construction or renovation

of such facility is completed.