The "Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act" aims to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to extend the time limit for notifying the Indian Health Service of emergency medical care or services received by an Indian from a non-Service provider or facility to at least 15 days. This change is specifically intended to benefit elderly or disabled Indians. If passed, this bill would impact Indians receiving emergency medical care by allowing them more time to notify the Indian Health Service, potentially easing the process of claiming and receiving necessary services.
Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act
This bill extends from 72 hours to not less than 15 days the time period to notify the Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) program of emergency medical care received from a non-Indian Health Service (IHS) medical provider or at a non-IHS medical facility. This bill does not apply to individuals who are elderly or disabled, who continue to have a 30-day notification requirement for emergency services.
The IHS provides medical and dental services directly to American Indian and Alaska Native patients whenever possible. The PRC program pays for medical or dental care that is provided away from an IHS or tribal health care facility. The PRC program must be notified of requests for authorization of payment for health care services from a non-IHS provider.
Currently in emergency cases, the patient, an individual on behalf of the patient, or the medical care provider must, within 72 hours after the beginning of treatment for the condition or after admission to a health care facility, notify a PRC authorizing official of the need for the emergency medical care. This bill instead allows the patient, other individual, or provider to notify PRC not less than 15 days of the treatment or admission.