H.R. 8658: Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act

This bill would change a notification rule in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act for emergency medical care paid for through the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Under current law, when an Indian patient gets emergency care from a non-IHS provider or at a non-IHS facility, there is a deadline for notifying IHS in order for the care to be paid for. This bill would require that, except for one specific category already addressed in the law, that notification deadline be at least 15 days. In other words, IHS could not set a deadline shorter than 15 days for these emergency claims.

The practical effect would be to give patients, providers, or both more time to report emergency treatment or hospital admission to IHS so the services can qualify for payment. The bill does not change who is eligible for care, what kinds of emergency services are covered, or whether IHS pays for them; it only changes the minimum amount of time allowed for notification.

Relevant Companies

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