HEALTTH Act

To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to improve access to tribal health care by providing for systemic Indian Health Service workforce and funding allocation reforms, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Helping Ensure Accountability, Leadership, and Trust in Tribal Healthcare Act HEALTTH Act (b) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings. Title I—Expanding Authorities and Improving Access to Care Sec. 101. Service hospital long-term contract pilot program. Sec. 102. Expanded hiring authority for the Indian Health Service. Sec. 103. Removal or demotion of employees. Sec. 104. Improving timeliness of care. Title II—Indian Health Service Recruitment and Workforce Sec. 201. Exclusion from gross income for payments made under Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program. Sec. 202. Clarifying that certain degrees qualify individuals for eligibility in the Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program. Sec. 203. Cultural competency programs. Sec. 204. Relocation reimbursement. Sec. 205. Authority to waive Indian preference laws. Sec. 206. Streamlining medical volunteer credentialing process. Title III—Purchased/Referred Care Program Reforms Sec. 301. Codification of limitation on charges for health care professional services and non-hospital-based care source. Sec. 302. Allocation of Purchased/Referred Care program funds. Sec. 303. Purchased/Referred Care program backlog. Sec. 304. Report on financial stability of Service hospitals and facilities. 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The United States Government has a treaty obligation to provide health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives. (2) The Indian Health Service is the Federal agency that is entrusted to carry out this obligation. (3) Access to high quality health care is critical for strong and vibrant tribal communities in the Great Plains Area and throughout the United States. (4) In 2010, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs published a report titled In Critical Condition: The Urgent Need to Reform the Indian Health Service’s Aberdeen Area (5) In 2015 and 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services conducted surveys of Indian Health Service hospitals in the Great Plains Area and found serious structural deficiencies that put patients’ health and safety in immediate jeopardy. (6) The Indian Health Service’s failures in the Great Plains Area have resulted in a severe reduction in access to emergency care, needlessly long wait times, patient suffering, low quality of life, and several tragic deaths. (7) The Indian Health Service is in need of comprehensive reform that will hold its management and employees accountable, foster strong and capable agency leadership, and restore tribal members’ trust in the care it delivers. I Expanding Authorities and Improving Access to Care 101. Service hospital long-term contract pilot program Title VIII of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1671 833. Service hospital long-term contract pilot program (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Service, shall implement a 7-year pilot program to test the viability and advisability of entering into long-term contracts for the operation of eligible Service hospitals with governance structures that include tribal input. (b) Elements Under such pilot program, subject to subsection (e), the following shall apply: (1) The Secretary shall select three eligible Service hospitals in rural areas to participate in the pilot program. (2) For each such participating hospital, the Secretary shall enter into a long-term contract. (3) At each such participating hospital, the Secretary, in consultation with the primary Indian tribes served by the hospital, shall install a governing board described in subsection (d), which shall be responsible for overseeing the local operation of the hospital. (c) Eligible Service hospital For purposes of this section, the term eligible Service hospital (d) Governance board described For purposes of subsection (b), a governance board described in this subsection, with respect to a Service hospital participating in the pilot program, is a board that satisfies the following criteria: (1) Composition (A) In general The governance board is composed, in accordance with the best practices specified under paragraph (3), of the following individuals: (i) Representatives of the Service, who shall be selected by the Secretary. (ii) Representatives of the Service hospital. (iii) Representatives of each primary Indian tribe served by the hospital, who shall be selected by the respective Indian tribe. (iv) Experts in health care administration and delivery, who shall— (I) be selected by the Secretary and respective Indian tribe; and (II) to the extent possible, located in the State in which the hospital is located or otherwise familiar with such State. (B) Voting rights In determining the composition of the board with respect to voting rights on the board— (i) the number of voting members representing the Service shall be equal to the number of voting members representing the Indian tribes involved; and (ii) the number of voting members representing the hospital may not be greater than the number of voting members representing the Service or the Indian tribes involved. (2) Duties The governance board shall perform duties in accordance with the best practices specified under paragraph (3) and shall include developing financial and quality metrics and standards for salaries, recruitment, retention, training, and dismissal of employees of such hospital. (3) Best practices The Secretary shall specify best practices for the governance board described in this subsection, including best practices relating to the number of members of such board, the authorities of the board, and the duties of the board. (e) Treatment of eligible Service hospitals currently under contract In the case of an eligible Service hospital that is under a current contract with the Secretary as of the initiation of the selection process period for the pilot program, in order for such hospital to participate in the pilot program the Secretary, with the agreement of the hospital, may— (1) notwithstanding any other provision of law, modify or terminate such contract and in order for such hospital to enter into a long-term contract under the pilot program; or (2) enter into a long-term contract under the pilot program (and begin the pilot program) beginning on the date after the last date of such current contract. (f) Long-Term contract defined For purposes of this section, the term long-term contract (g) Clarification Nothing in this section shall be construed to inhibit a tribe’s authority to enter into a compact or contract under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. (h) Reports For each year of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the results of the program demonstrated during the respective year. Each such report shall include the following: (1) Information related to the financial health of each eligible hospital participating in the pilot program. (2) Information on the affect the pilot program has on access to care. (3) Information on patient satisfaction with services provided at such hospitals. (4) The number of readmissions at such hospitals. (5) The number of hospital-acquired conditions at such hospitals. (6) Recommendations on the viability and advisability of the long-term contracts and hospital governance structure under such pilot program. (7) Any other information the Secretary considers necessary for a proper analysis of the pilot program. . 102. Expanded hiring authority for the Indian Health Service Section 601(d) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1661(d) (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting and subject to paragraph (4) paragraph (2) (2) by adding at the end the following: (4) Employment authority (A) In general The Secretary may, with respect to any employee described in subparagraph (B), provide that one or more provisions of chapter 74 (i) in lieu of any provision of title 5 of the United States Code (other than as applied pursuant to section 834); or (ii) notwithstanding any lack of specific authority for a matter with respect to which title 5 of the United States Code relates. (B) Applicability to employees Authority under this paragraph may be exercised with respect to any employee in the Service holding a position— (i) to which chapter 51 (ii) which involves health care responsibilities. (C) Definition For purposes of this paragraph, health care . 103. Removal or demotion of employees (a) In general Title VIII of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1671 et seq. 834. Removal or demotion of employees (a) In general The Secretary may remove or demote an individual who is an employee of the Service if the Secretary determines the performance or misconduct of the individual warrants such removal or demotion. If the Secretary so removes or demotes such an individual, the Secretary may— (1) remove the individual from the Service; or (2) demote the individual by means of— (A) a reduction in grade for which the individual is qualified and that the Secretary determines is appropriate; or (B) a reduction in annual rate of pay that the Secretary determines is appropriate. In the case of an individual who is removed under paragraph (1) or demoted under paragraph (2), the Secretary may require such individual take unpaid administrative leave for not longer than 10 consecutive work days. (b) Pay of certain demoted individuals (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any individual subject to a demotion under subsection (a)(2)(A) shall, beginning on the date of such demotion, receive the annual rate of pay applicable to such grade. (2) An individual so demoted may not be placed on administrative leave or any other category of paid leave during the period during which an appeal (if any) under this section is ongoing, and may only receive pay if the individual reports for duty. If an individual so demoted does not report for duty, such individual shall not receive pay or other benefits pursuant to subsection (e)(5). (c) Notice to Secretary Not later than 30 days after removing or demoting an individual under subsection (a), the Service shall submit to the Secretary notice in writing of such removal or demotion and the reason for such removal or demotion. (d) Procedure (1) The procedures under section 7513(b) of title 5 and chapter 43 of such title shall not apply to a removal or demotion under this section. (2) (A) Subject to subparagraph (B) and subsection (e), any removal or demotion under subsection (a) may be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701 of title 5. (B) An appeal under subparagraph (A) of a removal or demotion may only be made if such appeal is made not later than seven days after the date of such removal or demotion. (e) Expedited Review by Administrative Judge (1) Upon receipt of an appeal under subsection (d)(2)(A), the Merit Systems Protection Board shall refer such appeal to an administrative judge pursuant to section 7701(b)(1) of title 5. The administrative judge shall expedite any such appeal under such section and, in any such case, shall issue a decision not later than 45 days after the date of the appeal. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 7703 of title 5, the decision of an administrative judge under paragraph (1) shall be final and shall not be subject to any further appeal. (3) In any case in which the administrative judge cannot issue a decision in accordance with the 45-day requirement under paragraph (1), the removal or demotion is final. In such a case, the Merit Systems Protection Board shall, within 14 days after the date that such removal or demotion is final, submit to Congress a report that explains the reasons why a decision was not issued in accordance with such requirement. (4) The Merit Systems Protection Board or administrative judge may not stay any removal or demotion under this section. (5) During the period beginning on the date on which an individual appeals a removal from the Service under subsection (d) and ending on the date that the administrative judge issues a final decision on such appeal, such individual may not receive any pay, awards, bonuses, incentives, allowances, differentials, student loan repayments, special payments, or benefits. (6) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall provide to the Merit Systems Protection Board, and to any administrative judge to whom an appeal under this section is referred, such information and assistance as may be necessary to ensure an appeal under this subsection is expedited. (f) Termination of investigations by Office of Special Counsel Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Special Counsel (established by section 1211 of title 5) may terminate an investigation of a prohibited personnel practice alleged by an employee or former employee of the Department after the Special Counsel provides to the employee or former employee a written statement of the reasons for the termination of the investigation. Such statement may not be admissible as evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding without the consent of such employee or former employee. (g) Relation to Title 5 The authority provided by this section is in addition to the authority provided by subchapter V of chapter 75 (h) Definitions In this section: (1) The term individual (A) an individual, as that term is defined in section 713(g)(1); or (B) a political appointee. (2) The term grade (3) The term misconduct (4) The term political appointee (A) employed in a position described under sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5 (relating to the Executive Schedule); (B) a limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively, of section 3132(a) of title 5; or (C) employed in a position of a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations. . (b) Conforming Section 4303(f) of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking or (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and inserting , or (3) by adding at the end the following: (4) any removal or demotion under section 834 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. . 104. Improving timeliness of care Title III of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1631 et seq. 314. Standards to improve timeliness of care (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Service, shall— (1) establish, by regulation, standards to measure the timeliness of the provision of health care services in Service facilities; and (2) make such standards available to all Service areas and Service facilities. (b) Data collection The Secretary, acting through the Service, shall develop a process for Service facilities to submit to the Secretary data with respect to the standards established under subsection (a). . II Indian Health Service Recruitment and Workforce 201. Exclusion from gross income for payments made under Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program (a) In general Section 108(f)(4) under section 108 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, 338I of such Act, (b) Clerical amendment The heading for section 108(f)(4) of such Code is amended by striking and certain , Indian health service loan repayment program, and certain (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to amounts received after the date of the enactment of this Act. 202. Clarifying that certain degrees qualify individuals for eligibility in the Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program Section 108 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1616a (1) in subsection (b)(1)(B)— (A) in clause (i), by inserting (including a degree business administration with an emphasis in health care management, as defined by the Secretary, or a degree in health administration, hospital administration, or public health) (B) in clause (ii), by inserting or a license or certification to practice in the field of health administration, hospital administration, business administration, or public health, as applicable, in a State (2) in subsection (f)(1)(B)(iii), by striking 2 years or such longer period as the individual may agree to serve in the full-time clinical practice of such individual’s profession 2 years or such longer period as the individual may agree to serve in the full-time practice of such individual's profession (or 4 years or such longer period as the individual may agree to serve in the half-time practice of such individual’s profession) (3) in subsection (g)(2)(A), in the first sentence— (A) by inserting , in the case of an individual agreeing to serve in the full-time practice of such individual’s profession, up to $35,000 (B) by inserting (or, in the case of an individual agreeing to serve in the half-time practice of such individual’s profession, up to $17,500) on behalf of 203. Cultural competency programs Title I of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1611 et seq. 125. Cultural competency programs (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Service, shall, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and for each Service area, develop and implement training programs for cultural competency for employees of the Service, locum tenens medical providers, and other contracted employees who work at Service hospitals or other Service facilities and whose employment requires regular direct patient access. (b) Required participation Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning with years beginning after (and for contracts entered into on or after) the date of implementation of the training programs under subsection (a), annual participation in such a program shall be a condition of employment (or of providing services in the capacity as a locum tenen medical provider or of the terms of the contracted employment, as applicable), and continued employment (or provision of such services in such capacity or contracted employment, as applicable), for each employee of the Service, locum tenens medical provider, and contracted employee described in such subsection. For purposes of the previous sentence, an individual shall not be considered as participating in such a program, with respect to a year, unless such individual satisfies such requirements, including testing, included in such program for such year, as specified by the Secretary. (c) Consultation In developing a training program under subsection (a) for a Service area, the Secretary shall consult with representatives of each Indian tribe served in such area. . 204. Relocation reimbursement Title I of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1611 et seq. 126. Relocation reimbursement (a) In general In the case of an employee of the Service who relocates to serve in a different capacity or position as an employee of the Service, the Secretary shall, subject to subsection (b), offer such employee reimbursement for reasonable costs associated with such relocation, as determined by the Secretary, incurred by such employee if— (1) such relocation is to fill a position that— (A) is at a Service facility that is located in a rural area or medically underserved area; and (B) had not been filled by a full-time non-contractor for a period of at least 6 months; or (2) such relocation is to fill a position that is for hospital management or administration, as determined by the Secretary. (b) Amount for relocation (1) In general The amount of reimbursement to an employee under subsection (a) shall be in an amount that is at least 50 percent, but not more than 75 percent, of the specified pay amount (as described in paragraph (2)) of the employee. (2) Specified pay amount For purposes of paragraph (1), the specified pay amount, with respect to an employee, is the annual rate of basic pay of the employee in effect at the beginning of the service period of such employee multiplied by the number of years (including fractions of a year) in the service period, not to exceed 4 years. (c) Clarification Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the authority of the Secretary, as in existence before the enactment of this section, to offer reimbursement for travel or relocation. . 205. Authority to waive Indian preference laws Title VI of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1611 et seq. 605. Authority to waive Indian preference laws To enhance recruitment and retention of employees of the Service, the Secretary may waive the requirements of the Indian preference laws (as defined in section 2(e) of Public Law 96–135 25 U.S.C. 472a(e) (1) if such personnel action is with respect to a facility that has a personnel vacancy rate of at least 20 percent; or (2) in the case such personnel action is with respect to a former employee of the Service or former tribal employee who was removed from such former employment or demoted for misconduct that occurred during the five years prior to the date of such personnel action. . 206. Streamlining medical volunteer credentialing process Title I of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1611 et seq. 128. Streamlining medical volunteer credentialing process (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Service, shall, in accordance with subsection (b), implement a Service-wide centralized credentialing system to credential licensed health professionals who seek to volunteer at a Service facility. (b) Requirements The credentialing system implemented under subsection (a) shall be in accordance with the following: (1) Credentialing of licensed health professionals who seek to volunteer at a Service facility shall occur at the Service level. (2) Credentialing procedures under such system shall be uniform throughout the Service. (3) Under such system, in the case that such a licensed health professional has successfully completed the credentialing procedures under such system, such professional shall be authorized to treat patients at any Service facility or other facility within a Service area. (c) Regulations The Secretary may promulgate regulations to implement this section. (d) Consultation The Secretary may consult with public and private associations of medical providers in the development of the credentialing system under this section. (e) Application The credentialing system under this section shall apply with respect to licensed health professionals seeking to volunteer with respect to— (1) providing direct health care services at a Service facility; and (2) providing services at facilities operated or contracted by a tribe, tribal organization, or urban Indian organization under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. (f) Clarification Nothing in this section shall be construed to inhibit a tribe’s authority to enter into a compact or contract under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. . III Purchased/Referred Care Program Reforms 301. Codification of limitation on charges for health care professional services and non-hospital-based care source (a) Applicability The requirements of this section shall apply to— (1) health programs operated by the Indian Health Service; (2) health programs operated by an urban Indian organization through a contract or grant under title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94–437 (3) health programs operated by an Indian tribe or tribal organization pursuant to a contract or compact with the Indian Health Service under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq. 25 U.S.C. 450l 25 U.S.C. 458aaa–16(e) (b) Definitions For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) The term notification of a claim (A) Such claim is submitted within the applicable period specified under such section 136.24, or if applicable, section 406 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1646 (B) The information submitted with the claim is sufficient to— (i) identify the individual as eligible for Indian Health Service services (such as name, address, home or referring service unit, tribal affiliation); (ii) identify the medical care provided (such as the date of service and description of services); and (iii) verify prior authorization by the Indian Health Service for services provided (such as the IHS purchase order number or medical referral form) or exemption from prior authorization (such as copies of pertinent clinical information for emergency care that was not prior-authorized). (C) To be considered sufficient notification of a claim, a claim submitted by a provider or supplier for payment shall be in a format that complies with the format required for submission of claims under title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 1320d–4 (2) The term provider (3) The term referral (4) The term repricing agent (5) The term supplier (c) Payment for provider and supplier services purchased by Indian health programs (1) In general Payment to providers and suppliers for any level of care authorized under subpart C of part 136 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, by a Purchased/Referred Care program of the Indian Health Service, authorized by a tribe or tribal organization carrying out such a program of the Indian Health Service under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq. 25 U.S.C. 1603(h) I/T/U (A) MFC rate method (i) In general The method described in this subparagraph is that, subject to clause (ii), in the case a specific amount for an item or service has been negotiated with a specific provider or supplier or its agent by the I/T/U, the I/T/U shall pay that amount for such item or service. (ii) Limitation The amount applied under clause (i) for an item or service shall be an amount that is at least the amount of the provider’s or supplier’s most favored customer rate, as defined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for an item or service, as evidenced by commercial price lists or paid invoices and other related pricing and discount data to ensure that the I/T/U is receiving a fair and reasonable price. The limitation under the previous sentence shall not apply with respect to an item or service if— (I) the amount offered to the I/T/U under the negotiation under clause (i) is fair and reasonable, as determined by the I/T/U, even though comparable discounts were not negotiated; and (II) the amount is otherwise in the best interest of the I/T/U, as determined by the I/T/U. (B) Medicare rates The method described in this subparagraph is that, in the case that an amount for an item or service has not been negotiated in accordance with subparagraph (A), the I/T/U will pay the lowest of the following amounts for the item or service: (i) The amount that is the applicable payment amount under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for such item or service, including payment according to a fee schedule, a prospective payment system or based on reasonable cost for the period in which the service was provided, or in the event of a Medicare waiver, the payment amount will be calculated in accordance with such waiver. For purposes of this paragraph, the amount described in this clause shall be referred to as the Medicare rate (ii) An amount negotiated by a repricing agent if the provider or supplier is participating within the repricing agent’s network and the I/T/U has a pricing arrangement or contract with that repricing agent. (iii) An amount not to exceed the provider or supplier’s most favored customer rate described in subparagraph (A)(ii) for such item or service, as evidenced by commercial price lists or paid invoices and other related pricing and discount data to ensure that the I/T/U is receiving a fair and reasonable price, but only to the extent such evidence is reasonably accessible and available to the I/T/U. (C) Other The method described in this subparagraph is that, in the case that a Medicare rate does not exist for an item or service, and no other method described in a previous subparagraph is accessible or available, the amount shall be deemed to be 65 percent of authorized charges for such item or service. (2) Coordination of benefits and limitation on recovery If an I/T/U has authorized payment for items and services provided to an individual who is eligible for benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, title XIX of such Act, or another third-party payer, the following shall apply: (A) The I/T/U shall be the payer of last resort under section 2901(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1623(b) (B) If there are any third-party payers, the I/T/U shall pay the amount for which the patient is being held responsible after the provider or supplier of services has coordinated benefits and all other alternate resources have been considered and paid, including applicable copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance that are owed by the patient. (C) The maximum payment by the I/T/U shall be only the portion of the payment amount determined under this section not covered by any other payer. (D) The I/T/U payment may not exceed the rate calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) of this section (plus applicable cost sharing). (E) In the case payment is made under such title XIX for an item or service such payment shall be considered payment in full and there shall be no additional payment made by the I/T/U for such item or service. (3) Authorized services Payment shall be made only for those items and services authorized by an I/T/U consistent with this section or section 503(a) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1653(a) (4) No additional charges (A) If an amount has not been negotiated under paragraph (1)(A) for an item or service, the provider or supplier shall be deemed to have accepted the applicable payment amount under paragraph (1)(B) for such item or service as payment in full if— (i) the item or service was provided based on a referral; (ii) the provider or supplier submits a notification of a claim for payment to the I/T/U; or (iii) the provider or supplier accepts payment for the provision of such item or service from the I/T/U. (B) A payment made and accepted in accordance with this section shall constitute payment in full and the provider or its agent, or supplier or its agent, may not impose any additional charge— (i) on the individual for I/T/U authorized items and services; or (ii) for information requested by the I/T/U or its agent or fiscal intermediary for the purposes of payment determinations or quality assurance. (5) Notification of claim The Indian Health Service shall not adjudicate a notification of a claim that does not contain the information described in subsection (b)(1) with an approval or denial, except that the Service may request further information from the individual, or as applicable, the provider or supplier, necessary to make a decision. A notification of a claim meeting the requirements specified herein does not guarantee payment. (6) Rate authorized No service shall be authorized and no payment shall be issued under this section in excess of the rate authorized by this section. (d) Authorization by an urban Indian organization An urban Indian organization may authorize for purchase items and services for an eligible urban Indian as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1603 25 U.S.C. 1653 (e) Exception In the case of a payment described in subsection (c) that is with respect to a rare specialty service, as specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or a service furnished in highly rural and medically underserved areas, as specified by the Secretary, the Indian Health Service or tribe or tribal organization involved may negotiate an amount for such payment for such service that is greater than the payment amount that would be recognized under title XVIII of the Social Security for such service. (f) Report Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Indian Health Service, shall submit to Congress a report on the impact of this section on access to care under the Purchased/Referred Care program, including recommendations for such legislative actions as the Secretary determines appropriate. 302. Allocation of Purchased/Referred Care program funds (a) In general Title II of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act is amended by inserting after section 226 ( 25 U.S.C. 1621y 227. Purchased/Referred Care program disbursement formula (a) In general The Secretary shall, with respect to the Purchased/Referred Care program (formerly referred to as the contract health services program chapter 5 (b) Considerations In developing the revised distribution formula under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider— (1) the extent to which services are available at a Service hospital or facility of the Service rather than the mere existence of such a hospital or facility; (2) population growth and the potential for population growth; (3) the socioeconomic makeup of the population of each contract health service delivery area; (4) the geographic makeup of each contract health service delivery area; (5) the size of the hospital or facility; (6) the relative regional cost of purchasing services; (7) actual counts of Purchased/Referred Care users; and (8) accreditation problems at the Service hospital or facility of the Service. (c) Implementation deadline The revised distribution formula under subsection (a) shall be implemented not later than the date that is 3 years after the first October 1 following the date of the enactment of this Act. (d) Transition (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the period beginning on the first October 1 following the date of the enactment of this section and ending the day before the implementation date of the revised distribution formula under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide for the distribution of funds, with respect to direct health care services provided by a Service facility, pursuant to the Purchased/Referred Care program (and with respect to services provided by any other facility under such program, at the option of such facility) be consistent with the following: (A) During any portion of such period for which a Service area has been designated as a high IHS level area under paragraph (2)(B), such area shall not receive any funds pursuant to such program in addition to the base allotment determined under the distribution formula under the program for 2016 with respect to such area. (B) In the case that during such period the amount of funds made available to the Service for such distribution under such program is in excess of the total amounts of base allotments for distribution under such program for 2016, the Secretary shall distribute such excess amount, in accordance with a methodology specified by the Secretary, to Service areas which for an applicable portion of such period of excess funding have been designated as a low IHS level area under paragraph (2)(A). (2) Area designations For purposes of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, with respect to each contract health service delivery area— (A) review the services provided in the area to determine the IHS medical priority level pursuant to section 136.23(e) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, of such services; and (B) in the case majority, as specified by the Secretary, of the services so provided in the area were determined to have— (i) such a priority level of a I or II, designate such area as a low IHS level area; and (ii) any other priority level, designate such area as a high IHS level area. (e) Application of reduction clause In the case of a facility that, as of the date of the enactment of this section, is under contract with the Secretary with respect to the Purchased/Referred Care program and such contract applies to a period to which subsection (d) or the revised distribution formula under subsection (a) applies, if application of subsection (d) or the revised distribution formula results in the distribution of an amount of funds to such facility during such period that is less than the amount of funds that would be provided during such period to such facility under such contract with respect to the Purchased/Referred Care program before application of such subsection (d) or such revised distribution formula, respectively, the Secretary may under section 106(b) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450j–1(b) (f) Clarification Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede a Tribe’s self-governance contract under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. (g) Update The Secretary shall periodically, but not more frequently than once every 3 years and not less frequently than once every five years, review and, as necessary, update the formula implemented under subsection (a). (h) Consultation In developing the formula under subsection (a) and reviewing and making updates to such formula under subsection (f), the Secretary shall consult with Indian tribes, including such tribes consulted for purposes of carrying out section 226. (i) Reports Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of this section. Each such report shall include information, with respect to the period for such report, on— (1) the distribution of funds for such period pursuant to the Purchased/Referred Care program among the contract health service delivery area, tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations; (2) whether during such period any contract health service delivery area, tribe, tribal organization, or urban Indian organization had a shortfall in such funding and, if so, the amount of such shortfall; and (3) recommendations for such legislative action as the Secretary deems appropriate. . (b) Conforming amendments Section 226 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1621y (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009 Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of section 227 (B) by striking the study a study (C) by striking as requested by Congress in March 2009, or pursuant to section 830 , including as amended pursuant to section 227 (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting , and submit, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of section 227 and annually thereafter, to Congress a report on pursuant to the program (B) in paragraph (3), by striking at the end and (C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); (D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: (4) to determine whether during the period of the report any contract health service delivery area, tribe, tribal organization, or urban Indian organization had a shortfall in such funding and, if so, the amount of such shortfall; and (5) recommendations for such legislative action as the Secretary deems appropriate. ; and (E) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by subparagraph (C), by inserting , including recommendations for such legislative actions as the Secretary determines appropriate (3) by striking subsection (c). 303. Purchased/referred care program backlog Title II of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1621 228. Purchased/Referred Care program backlog Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall develop and implement a system to prioritize any backlog of unpaid balances under the Purchased/Referred Care program for each Service area. In developing such system, the Secretary shall consider— (1) the monetary amount of each such unpaid balance; and (2) how long such balance has remained unpaid. . 304. Report on financial stability of Service hospitals and facilities Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on issues related to the financial stability of hospitals and facilities of the Indian Health Service that have experienced sanction or threat of sanction by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Such report shall focus on the effects of any revenues lost as a result of the sanction or threat of sanction and shall include recommendations for legislative action.

Summary: Helping Ensure Accountability, Leadership, and Trust in Tribal Healthcare Act or the HEALTTH Act TITLE I -- EXPANDING AUTHORITIES AND IMPROVING ACESS TO CARE (Sec. 101) This bill amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act by requiring the Indian Health Service (IHS) to implement a seven-year pilot program for testing the use of long-term contracts of at least five years for the operation of rural IHS hospitals with governance structures that include tribal input. The IHS must: (1) install a governing board at each participating hospital for overseeing the local operation of the hospital, and (2) consult with the primary Indian tribes served by the hospital when installing the boards. The boards must be comprised of representatives from the IHS, the hospital, primary Indian tribes served by the hospital, and experts in health care administration and delivery. Hospitals may modify or terminate existing contracts so that they can enter into long-term contracts under the pilot program. The IHS must report on the program results for each year of the pilot program. (Sec. 102) The bill expands the IHS' hiring authority by allowing it to offer more benefits to recruit employees. (Sec. 103) The bill allows the IHS to remove or demote an employee for performance or misconduct. (Sec. 104) The IHS must: (1) establish standards to measure the timeliness of health care services in IHS facilities, and (2) develop a process for those facilities to report data to the IHS with respect to those standards. TITLE II--INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE RECRUITMENT AND WORKFORCE (Sec. 201) The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code by excluding from gross income payments under the IHS loan repayment program. (Sec. 202) The bill expands the repayment program by allowing loan repayment awards for: (1) health care management, health care administration, or hospital administration professions; and (2) individuals who work part time if they serve for at least four years. (Sec. 203) The IHS must implement mandatory training programs for cultural competency for individuals who work at IHS facilities and whose employment requires regular direct patient access. (Sec. 204) The IHS must offer relocation reimbursement to employees who relocate to serve in a different capacity or position if the position is: (1) in a rural area or medically underserved area and has not been filled by a full-time noncontractor for at least six months, or (2) for hospital management or administration. (Sec. 205) The bill allows the IHS to waive the requirements of Indian preference laws for positions at an IHS facility if it has a vacancy rate of at least 20%. The IHS may also waive those laws in the case of an applicant who is a former IHS employee or formal tribal employee and who was removed from employment or demoted for misconduct in the last five years. (Sec. 206) The IHS must centralize its credentials system for licensed health professionals who seek to volunteer at IHS facilities. TITLE III--PURCHASED/REFERRED CARE PROGRAM REFORMS (Sec. 301) The bill establishes requirements for capping payments to certain non-IHS or non-tribal health care providers and suppliers. (Sec. 302) The IHS must implement within three years a new revised distribution formula for the Purchased/Referred Care program, which was formerly referred to as the contract health services program. (Sec. 303) The IHS must also implement a system to prioritize any backlog of unpaid balances under the program for each IHS area. (Sec. 304) The Government Accountability Office must report on issues related to the financial stability of IHS' hospitals and facilities that have experienced sanction or threat of sanction by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.