Bill · H.R. 1418· House(119-HR-1418)
Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/18/2025
- Last activity
- 2/18/2025 — 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.
- Sponsored by
- Dusty Johnson
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 4
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2025 aims to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. It specifically addresses liability regarding the payment of charges or costs for purchased or referred care services. The bill modifies how the Service handles liability toward providers, debt collectors, or other persons. Additionally, it establishes a process for patients who paid out-of-pocket to be reimbursed by the Service. The Secretary is also required to update various manuals and administrative authorities to reflect these changes.
Yes· 3 of 4
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+6
The bill specifically benefits Native Americans by streamlining the reimbursement process for purchased and referred healthcare services.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
The bill benefits low-income households by ensuring they can be reimbursed for out-of-pocket medical costs within 30 days.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+5
The bill improves healthcare access for Indian Health Service patients by establishing a process for out-of-pocket reimbursement for purchased or referred care.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs: The bill requires the Secretary to establish procedures so that patients who paid out-of-pocket for authorized purchased/referred care services can be reimbursed by the Service (Section 2(a)(4)(1)).
-
Timely reimbursement: Once documentation is submitted, the bill mandates that the reimbursement must occur not later than 30 days after the patient submits the required documentation (Section 2(a)(4)(1)).
-
Simplified documentation submission: Patients seeking reimbursement have the option to submit their documentation electronically or in-person at a Service facility (Section 2(a)(4)(2)).
-
Liability protections: The bill amends language to ensure the Service is not liable to any provider, debt collector, or other person despite certain agreements or documents signed by a patient (Section 2(a)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Tribal program exclusion: The reimbursement provisions for out-of-pocket payments do not apply to purchased/referred care services operated by an Indian Tribe under a compact or contract unless the Tribe expressly agrees to it (Section 2(a)(4)(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+6Good For Low Income Households+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+4
- 3/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/27/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/24/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/21/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/18/2025
- 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.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Michael BaumgartnerRepublican · Washington
Tom ColeRepublican · Oklahoma
Donald DavisDemocrat · North Carolina
Teresa Leger FernandezDemocrat · New Mexico
Dan NewhouseRepublican · Washington
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado
Kim SchrierDemocrat · Washington