Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2662
Sponsor: Rep. Noem, Kristi L. [R-SD-At Large]
Introduced: 2017-05-25 in the House
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Employee hiring
Employee performance
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Federal officials
Federal-Indian relations
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Historical and cultural resources
Housing supply and affordability
Indian social and development programs
Licensing and registrations
Medical education
Minority health
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: 

Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a pay system for health care professionals employed by Indian Health Service (IHS) that is competitive with the salary of health care professionals employed by the Veterans Health Administration. HHS may establish incentives related to IHS employee recruitment and retention by providing relocation costs and rental assistance to employees under certain circumstances.
 
In addition, IHS must: 
 
centralize its credentialing system for licensed health professionals seeking to provide health care services at its facilities,
 
establish standards to measure the timeliness of health care services in its facilities,
 
 implement an annual mandatory program that provides cultural training for certain IHS employees and contractors, and 
 
 establish a demonstration project to provide additional staffing resources to understaffed IHS facilities.
 
 
Liability protections are given to certain health care professionals who volunteer at IHS facilities.
 
The bill expands the IHS student loan repayment program to include loan repayments for degrees related to health administration. 
HHS may: (1) directly hire candidates to positions within IHS; and (2) remove, transfer, or demote certain IHS employees based on performance or misconduct. 
HHS must establish a tribal consultation policy for IHS. 
The bill establishes: (1) whistle blower protections for IHS employees, and (2) requirements concerning IHS fiscal accountability and transparency. 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-06-21
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2017-06-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
action_date: 2017-06-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-05-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Introduced in House