Title: To provide for coverage of testing for COVID-19 at no cost sharing for Indians receiving health services through the Indian Health Service, and for other purposes.
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to cover, during the public health emergency and without cost-sharing, COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) testing and related visits for Native Americans, including Alaska Natives, who receive health services through the Indian Health Service (IHS), regardless of whether the COVID-19 services are covered under IHS.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6261 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6261

To provide for coverage of testing for COVID-19 at no cost sharing for 
 Indians receiving health services through the Indian Health Service, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 12, 2020

   Mr. Ruiz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for coverage of testing for COVID-19 at no cost sharing for 
 Indians receiving health services through the Indian Health Service, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. COVERAGE OF TESTING FOR COVID-19 AT NO COST SHARING FOR 
              INDIANS RECEIVING HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH INDIAN HEALTH 
              SERVICE.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall cover, without the 
imposition of any cost sharing requirements, the cost of providing the 
following items and services furnished during any portion of the 
emergency period defined in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1135(g) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5(g)) beginning on or after the 
date of the enactment of this Act to Indians (as defined in section 4 
of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)) receiving 
health services through the Indian Health Service, regardless of 
whether such items or services have been authorized under the contract 
health services system funded by the Indian Health Service or are 
covered as a health service of the Indian Health Service:
            (1) In vitro diagnostic products (as defined in section 
        809.3(a) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations) for the 
        detection of SARS-CoV-2 or the diagnosis of the virus that 
        causes COVID-19 that are approved, cleared, or authorized under 
        section 510(k), 513, 515, or 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
        Cosmetic Act, and the administration of such in vitro 
        diagnostic products.
            (2) Health care provider office visits, urgent care center 
        visits, and emergency room visits relating to testing for 
        COVID-19.
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