United States 115th Congress Status: In Committee 2 R cosponsors

S 304 — Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act

Last action — An errata sheet on written report No. 115-112 was printed.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to permit the Indian Health Service (IHS) to pay copayments owed to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by Indian veterans for medical services authorized under the Purchased/Referred Care program and administered at a VA facility. (Sec. 3) The IHS, the VA, and tribal health programs, in consultation with impacted tribes, must enter into a memorandum of understanding that authorizes the IHS or a tribal health program to pay such copayments unless it would decrease the quality of, or access to, health care for individuals receiving care from the IHS or the VA. The IHS and the VA must report on veterans who are eligible for IHS assistance and have received care from the VA.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

10 added · 4 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated text of S 304 adds a note stating the bill was reported in the Senate without amendments. It also removes a reference to compliance with the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. This change clarifies the legislative process regarding the bill and simplifies the text by removing specific legal citations.

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304 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
304 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
304 To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to allow the Indian Health Service to cover the cost of a copayment of an Indian or Alaska Native veteran receiving medical care or services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
149 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
304 [Report No.
115-112] To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to allow the Indian Health Service to cover the cost of a copayment of an Indian or Alaska Native veteran receiving medical care or services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to allow the Indian Health Service to cover the cost of a copayment of an Indian or Alaska Native veteran receiving medical care or services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs June 15, 2017 Reported by Mr.
Hoeven, without amendment _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to allow the Indian Health Service to cover the cost of a copayment of an Indian or Alaska Native veteran receiving medical care or services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
and ``(3) an update regarding efforts of the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to streamline health care for veterans who are eligible for assistance from the Service and have received health care at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs and at a facility of the Service, including a description of-- ``(A) any changes to the provision of health care required under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C.
and ``(3) an update regarding efforts of the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to streamline health care for veterans who are eligible for assistance from the Service and have received health care at a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs and at a facility of the Service, including a description of-- ``(A) any changes to the provision of health care required under this Act;
1601 et seq.);
<all>
Calendar No.
149 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
304 [Report No.
115-112] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to allow the Indian Health Service to cover the cost of a copayment of an Indian or Alaska Native veteran receiving medical care or services from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ June 15, 2017 Reported without amendment
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Sections of law this bill changes

2 sections in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

Indian health care · 25 U.S.C. ch. 18 1 section Amends the act as a whole
  • § 1621u Liability for payment Amends

    25 U.S.C. § 1621u

    The law today

    (a) No patient liability A patient who receives contract health care services that are authorized by the Service shall not be liable for the payment of any charges or costs associated with the provision of such services. (b) Notification The Secretary shall notify a contract care provider and any patient who receives contract health care services authorized by the Service that such patient is not liable for the payment of any charges or costs associated with the provision of such services not later than 5 business days after receipt of a notification of a claim by a provider of contract care services. (c) No recourse Following receipt of the notice provided under subsection (b), or, if a claim has been deemed accepted under section 1621s(b) of this title, the provider shall have no further recourse against the patient who received the services.

    6 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Also cites: 25 U.S.C. § 1623

How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill allows the Indian Health Service to cover copayment costs for certain Indian or Alaska Native veterans receiving medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

  • 25 U.S.C. 1621u

    (d) Veterans Affairs Copayments.--The Service may pay, in accordance with section 412, the cost of a copayment assessed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to an eligible Indian veteran (as defined in section 412) for covered medical care (as defined in such section).

    This addition allows the Service to pay copayments that Indian veterans owe to the VA for specific medical services.

  • 25 U.S.C. 1641

    SEC. 412. PAYMENTS FOR ELIGIBLE INDIAN VETERANS RECEIVING COVERED MEDICAL CARE AT VA FACILITIES.

    This new section establishes a mechanism for payments to cover copayments for Indian veterans receiving VA medical care.

Action History

  1. Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-112. Minority views filed.

  2. Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Hoeven without amendment. With written report No. 115-112. Minority views filed.

  3. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 149.

  4. An errata sheet on written report No. 115-112 was printed.

  5. Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  6. Introduced in Senate

  7. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 545 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (545)

545 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

veterans healthcare
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 304 do?
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to permit the Indian Health Service (IHS) to pay copayments owed to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by Indian veterans for medical services authorized under the Purchased/Referred Care program and administered at a VA facility. (Sec. 3) The IHS, the VA, and tribal health programs, in consultation with impacted tribes, must enter into a memorandum of understanding that authorizes the IHS or a tribal health program to pay such copayments unless it would decrease the quality of, or access to, health care for individuals receiving care from the IHS or the VA. The IHS and the VA must report on veterans who are eligible for IHS assistance and have received care from the VA.
Who sponsors S 304?
S 304 is sponsored by Rounds, Mike (Republican) and Thune, John (Republican).
What is the current status of S 304?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 304?
Track S 304 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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