This legislation amends Section 406 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to modify notification requirements for emergency contract health services. Specifically, it establishes a new general rule mandating that the Indian Health Service be notified within 15 days when an Indian beneficiary receives emergency medical care from a non-Service provider or facility. This change aims to standardize the notification period for most emergency claims, providing a clear and consistent timeframe for beneficiaries to report treatment for payment consideration. The amendment also re-designates the existing provision concerning elderly or disabled Indian beneficiaries. This indicates that their specific notification requirements, which were previously the general rule, will now operate distinctly from the newly established 15-day general notification period. The bill ensures that while a new standard is set, particular considerations for vulnerable populations are maintained.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
Native Americans
Emergency medical services and trauma careHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessIndian social and development programsMinority health
Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act
USA119th CongressS-1055| Senate
| Updated: 2/4/2026
This legislation amends Section 406 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to modify notification requirements for emergency contract health services. Specifically, it establishes a new general rule mandating that the Indian Health Service be notified within 15 days when an Indian beneficiary receives emergency medical care from a non-Service provider or facility. This change aims to standardize the notification period for most emergency claims, providing a clear and consistent timeframe for beneficiaries to report treatment for payment consideration. The amendment also re-designates the existing provision concerning elderly or disabled Indian beneficiaries. This indicates that their specific notification requirements, which were previously the general rule, will now operate distinctly from the newly established 15-day general notification period. The bill ensures that while a new standard is set, particular considerations for vulnerable populations are maintained.
Emergency medical services and trauma careHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessIndian social and development programsMinority health