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Congress·In Committee·26 days ago

Senate Bill Would Shield Native Patients From Bills for Indian Health Service Referrals

Also known as: Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • Sends a clear message that patients are not responsible for unpaid bills tied to Indian Health Service-approved outside care, even if they signed forms.
  • Requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to notify the outside provider and the patient within 5 business days that the patient can’t be billed for those costs.
  • Creates a process for patients to get paid back when they already covered an approved referral out of pocket; the goal is reimbursement within 30 days after paperwork is submitted.
  • Gives the agency 120 days to set up reimbursement procedures and 180 days to update manuals, provider contracts, and other paperwork to match the new rules.
  • Applies these protections to Indian Health Service-authorized outside care provided on, before, or after the law takes effect, with limits for some tribal-run programs unless the tribe agrees.
Healthcare

Milestones

2 milestones3 actions
Feb 4, 2026Senate

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

Feb 24, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Feb 24, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Related News

3 articles
Indianz.com·26 days ago

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hosts hearing for tribal health bills

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on S. 699, the Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2025. The bill requires the IHS to reimburse tribal patients for care sought outside of IHS in a timely manner and clarifies that patients are not liable for authorized care costs.

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Bloomberg Law·10 months ago

BGOV Bill Analysis: H.R. 1418, Indian Health Service Payments

Analysis of H.R. 1418, which prohibits health-care providers and debt collectors from billing patients for care authorized by the IHS. It requires IHS to reimburse patients for out-of-pocket costs for authorized care and strengthens existing laws to prevent wrongful medical debt.

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USA Today·over 1 year ago

Patients Suffer When Indian Health Service Doesn't Pay for Outside Care

Investigation into the systemic failures of the IHS Purchased/Referred Care program. While the agency is supposed to cover outside referrals, administrative fumbles and funding shortages leave thousands of Native Americans with daunting medical bills or without necessary treatment.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 699
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionCommittee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(4)
D: 2R: 2

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.