Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2017

Summary

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.

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Timeline

1. 25 May 2017

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 25 May 2017

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 13 June 2017

   Committee

   Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-89.

   Source: Committee

4. 11 April 2018

   Reported

   Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 25 May 2017 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 25 May 2017

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 25 May 2017

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 25 May 2017

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• John Barrasso · R · Sponsor
• John Thune · R · Sponsor
• John Hoeven · R · Sponsor
• Steve Daines · R · Cosponsor
• · slia00 · Other

Related records

• related to → Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2017
• related to ← Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2018