Native Health Access Improvement Act of 2019

To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve behavioral health outcomes for American Indians and Alaskan Natives, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Native Health Access Improvement Act of 2019 2. Special behavioral health program for Indians Part A of title V of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 290aa 506B. Special behavioral health program for Indians (a) In general The Director of the Indian Health Service, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall award grants for providing services in accordance with subsection (b) for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. (b) Services through Indian health facilities For purposes of subsection (a), services are provided in accordance with this subsection if the services are provided through any of the following entities: (1) The Indian Health Service. (2) An Indian health program operated by an Indian tribe or tribal organization pursuant to a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or compact with the Indian Health Service pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5301 (3) An urban Indian health program operated by an urban Indian organization pursuant to a grant or contract with the Indian Health Service pursuant to title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1651 (c) Reports Each grantee under this section shall submit reports at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director of the Indian Health Service may require. (d) Technical assistance center (1) Establishment The Director of the Indian Health Service, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall establish a technical assistance center (directly or by contract or cooperative agreement)— (A) to provide technical assistance to grantees under this section; and (B) to collect and evaluate information on the program carried out under this section. (2) Consultation The technical assistance center shall consult with grantees under this section for purposes of developing evaluation measures and data submission requirements for purposes of the collection and evaluation of information under paragraph (1)(B). (3) Data submission As a condition on receipt of a grant under this section, an applicant shall agree to submit data consistent with the data submission requirements developed pursuant to paragraph (2). (e) Funding (1) In general For the purpose of making grants under this section, there is authorized to be appropriated, and there is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. (2) Technical assistance center Of the amount made available to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024, the Director of the Indian Health Service shall allocate a percentage of such amount, to be determined by the Director in consultation with Indian tribes, for the technical assistance center under subsection (d). (f) Definitions In this section, the terms Indian health program Indian tribe tribal organization urban Indian organization 25 U.S.C. 1603 . 3. Indian defined in PPACA (a) Indian defined in PPACA (1) In general Section 1304 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18024 (f) Indian (1) In general In this title, the term Indian (A) described in paragraph (13) or (28) of section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1603 (B) who is eligible for health services provided by the Indian Health Service under section 809 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1679 (C) who is of Indian descent and belongs to the Indian community served by the local facilities and program of the Indian Health Service; or (D) who is described in paragraph (2). (2) Included individuals For purposes of this title, the following individuals shall be considered to be an Indian (A) A member of a Federally recognized Indian tribe. (B) A resident of an urban center who meets one or more of the following four criteria: (i) Membership in a Tribe, band, or other organized group of Indians, including those Tribes, bands, or groups terminated since 1940 and those recognized by the State in which they reside, or being a descendant, in the first or second degree, of any such member. (ii) Is an Eskimo or Aleut or other Alaska Native. (iii) Is considered by the Secretary of the Interior to be an Indian for any purpose. (iv) Is determined to be an Indian under regulations promulgated by the Secretary. (C) An individual who is considered by the Secretary of the Interior to be an Indian for any purpose. (D) An individual who is considered by the Secretary to be an Indian for purposes of eligibility for Indian health care services, including as a California Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, or other Alaska Native. . (2) Conforming amendments (A) Affordable choices health benefit plans Section 1311(c)(6)(D) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18031(c)(6)(D) section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act section 1304(f) (B) Reduced cost-sharing for individuals enrolling in qualified health plans Section 1402(d) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18071(d) (i) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking section 4(d) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450b(d) section 1304(f) (ii) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking (as so defined) (as defined in section 1304(f)) (C) Exemption from penalty for not maintaining minimum essential coverage Section 5000A(e) (3) Indians Any applicable individual who is an Indian (as defined in section 1304(f) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). . (3) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2021. (b) Technical amendments Section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1603 (1) in paragraph (13), by striking as defined in subsection (d) hereof as defined in paragraph (14) (2) in paragraph (28)— (A) by striking as defined in subsection (g) hereof as defined in paragraph (27) (B) by striking subsection (c)(1) through (4) subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (13)

Summary: Native Health Access Improvement Act of 2019 This bill establishes a grant program for Indian health facilities and expands the applicability of certain federal health care provisions to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Specifically, the bill provides funds for and requires the Indian Health Service (IHS) to award grants to Indian health facilities for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. The IHS must establish a technical assistance center for grantees. The bill defines Indian for purposes of health insurance reform, exchanges, and subsidies to include individuals of Indian descent who are members of an Indian community served by the IHS and individuals considered by the Department of Health and Human Services to be Indian for purposes of eligibility for Indian health care services. Individuals included in the definition are eligible for special monthly enrollment periods on health insurance exchanges and elimination of cost sharing under individual health coverage for those whose income is not more than 300% of the poverty line. Under current law, only members of Indian tribes are eligible for these benefits. The bill also exempts Indians, as defined by the bill, from the tax penalty for not maintaining minimum essential health coverage.