§ 1621r. Contract health services payment study

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(a)Duty of Secretary The Secretary, acting through the Service and in consultation with representatives of Indian tribes and tribal organizations operating contract health care programs under the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 450f et seq.) 1 or under self-governance compacts, Service personnel, private contract health services providers, the Indian Health Service Fiscal Intermediary, and other appropriate experts, shall conduct a study—

(1)to assess and identify administrative barriers that hinder the timely payment for services delivered by private contract health services providers to individual Indians by the Service and the Indian Health Service Fiscal Intermediary;

(2)to assess and identify the impact of such delayed payments upon the personal credit histories of individual Indians who have been treated by such providers; and

(3)to determine the most efficient and effective means of improving the Service’s contract health services payment system and ensuring the development of appropriate consumer protection policies to protect individual Indians who receive authorized services from private contract health services providers from billing and collection practices, including the development of materials and programs explaining patients’ rights and responsibilities.

(b)Functions of study The study required by subsection

(a)shall—

(1)assess the impact of the existing contract health services regulations and policies upon the ability of the Service and the Indian Health Service Fiscal Intermediary to process, on a timely and efficient basis, the payment of bills submitted by private contract health services providers;

(2)assess the financial and any other burdens imposed upon individual Indians and private contract health services providers by delayed payments;

(3)survey the policies and practices of collection agencies used by contract health services providers to collect payments for services rendered to individual Indians;

(4)identify appropriate changes in Federal policies, administrative procedures, and regulations, to eliminate the problems experienced by private contract health services providers and individual Indians as a result of delayed payments; and

(5)compare the Service’s payment processing requirements with private insurance claims processing requirements to evaluate the systemic differences or similarities employed by the Service and private insurers.

(c)Report to Congress Not later than 12 months after October 29, 1992, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report that includes—

(1)a detailed description of the study conducted pursuant to this section; and

(2)a discussion of the findings and conclusions of such study.

(Pub. L. 94–437, title II, § 219, as added Pub. L. 102–573, title II, § 215, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4557.)

Connections4 cite this · traces to 2

Cited by 4 sections

statute-compilations

Sec. 219
contract health services payment study

statutes-at-large

Public Law 102–573
To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to authorize appropriations for Indian health programs, and for other purposes

bill

Traces to 2 documents

U.S. Code

6 references not yet in our index

1
Pub. L. 94–437, title II, § 219
Pub. L. 102–573, title II, § 215
106 Stat. 4557
Pub. L. 93–638
88 Stat. 2206

Citation graph

cites case law

§ 1621r

Contract health services payment study

Bills×2

Stat. Comp.×1

Stat.×1

U.S.C.§ 450f

U.S.C.§ 5301

Cite1

Pub. L.Pub. L. 94–437, title II, § 219

Pub. L.Pub. L. 102–573, title II, § 215

Stat.106 Stat. 4557

Pub. L.Pub. L. 93–638

Cites 8 · showing 7Cited by 4 across 3 sources