Congress 115 - S 1250 - Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2017

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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 Native Americans Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations Student aid and college costs

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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.

Actions

Apr 11, 2018

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 13, 2017

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-89.
May 25, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
May 25, 2017

Introduced in Senate

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