[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8956 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8956
To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act for the development and
implementation of a centralized system to credential licensed health
professionals who seek to provide health care services at any Indian
Health Service unit.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2024
Mr. Newhouse (for himself and Mr. Johnson of South Dakota) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act for the development and
implementation of a centralized system to credential licensed health
professionals who seek to provide health care services at any Indian
Health Service unit.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Uniform Credentials for IHS
Providers Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. MEDICAL CREDENTIALING SYSTEM.
Title I of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1611
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 125. MEDICAL CREDENTIALING SYSTEM.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Development and implementation timeline.--Not later
than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Uniform
Credentials for IHS Providers Act of 2024, the Secretary,
acting through the Service (referred to in this section as the
`Secretary'), in accordance with subsection (b), shall develop
and implement a Service-wide centralized credentialing system
(referred to in this section as the `credentialing system') to
credential licensed health professionals who seek to provide
health care services at any Service unit.
``(2) Implementation.--In implementing the credentialing
system, the Secretary--
``(A) shall not require re-credentialing of
licensed health professionals who were credentialed
using existing Service policy prior to the date of
enactment of the Uniform Credentials for IHS Providers
Act of 2024; and
``(B) shall--
``(i) use the credentialing system for--
``(I) all applications for
credentialing or re-credentialing of
licensed health professionals submitted
on or after the date of enactment of
the Uniform Credentials for IHS
Providers Act of 2024; and
``(II) the migration into the
credentialing system of credentials
data that existed prior to
implementation of the credentialing
system; and
``(ii) maintain the established timeline
for re-credentialing of licensed health
professionals who were credentialed prior to
implementation of the credentialing system, as
defined by Service policy.
``(b) Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--In developing the credentialing system
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that--
``(A) credentialing procedures shall be uniform
throughout the Service; and
``(B) with respect to each licensed health
professional who successfully completes the
credentialing procedures of the credentialing system,
the Secretary may authorize the licensed health
professional to provide health care services at any
Service unit.
``(2) Exemption.--The requirements described in paragraph
(1) shall not apply to licensed health professionals who were
credentialed using existing Service policy prior to the date of
enactment of the Uniform Credentials for IHS Providers Act of
2024 until the date on which those licensed health
professionals are required to be re-credentialed in accordance
with the credentialing system developed and implemented under
subsection (a).
``(c) Consultation.--In developing the credentialing system under
subsection (a), the Secretary--
``(1) shall consult with Indian tribes; and
``(2) may consult with--
``(A) any public or private association of medical
providers;
``(B) any government agency; or
``(C) any other relevant expert, as determined by
the Secretary.
``(d) Application.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a licensed
health care professional may not provide health care services
at any Service unit, unless the licensed health care
professional successfully completes the credentialing
procedures of the credentialing system developed and
implemented under subsection (a).
``(2) Exemption.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to licensed
health professionals who were credentialed using existing
Service policy prior to the date of enactment of the Uniform
Credentials for IHS Providers Act of 2024 until the date on
which those licensed health professionals are required to be
re-credentialed in accordance with the credentialing system
developed and implemented under subsection (a).
``(e) Nonduplication of Efforts.--
``(1) In general.--To the extent that prior to the deadline
described in subsection (a)(1), the Service has begun
implementing or has completed implementation of a medical
credentialing system that otherwise meets the requirements of
this section, the Service shall not be required to establish a
new credentialing system under this section.
``(2) Authority.--The Service may expand or enhance an
existing credentialing system to meet the requirements of this
section.
``(3) Review.--
``(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once
every 5 years, the Service shall--
``(i) undertake a formal review of the
credentialing system in effect on the date of
the review; and
``(ii) if necessary, take action to bring
the credentialing system into compliance with
the requirements of this section.
``(B) Consultation.--Each formal review conducted
under subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the
consultation requirements under subsection (c).
``(f) Effect.--Nothing in this section--
``(1) negatively impacts the right of an Indian tribe to
enter into a compact or contract under the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et
seq.); or
``(2) applies to such a compact or contract unless
expressly agreed to by the Indian tribe.''.
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