Bills · HR 1418
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 1418Indian social and development programsHealth care costs and insurance
Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2025
INTRO FEB 18· LAST ACTION FEB 18
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
7BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it seeks to reduce financial burdens and confusion for Native American patients using the Indian Health Service. Currently, patients can sometimes be billed for services they believed were covered, leading to medical debt and financial stress. By explicitly stating that patients are not liable for authorized purchased/referred care, this bill aims to protect them from such unexpected costs.
If this bill becomes law, it could significantly alleviate medical debt for many Native American families and provide greater peace of mind regarding their healthcare costs. If it doesn't pass, the existing ambiguities and potential for patients to be billed for covered services would likely continue, leaving patients vulnerable to financial strain and collection efforts for care they shouldn't owe money for.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Explicitly states that Native American patients are not liable for costs of authorized purchased/referred care services, regardless of any agreement or form they might have signed.
This provision offers clear legal protection for patients against unexpected medical bills and debt collectors for covered services.
PROVISION 02
Requires the Indian Health Service (IHS) to establish a process within 120 days to reimburse patients who have paid out-of-pocket for authorized purchased/referred care services.
This creates a direct mechanism for patients to recover funds they should not have paid, addressing past financial burdens.
PROVISION 03
Mandates the Indian Health Service to update all relevant manuals, contracts, and documents within 180 days to reflect these changes in patient liability and the new term 'purchased/referred care'.
This ensures that official IHS policy and communication align with the new legal protections, reducing confusion for patients and providers.
PROVISION 04
Applies these amendments to purchased/referred care services authorized by the Indian Health Service furnished on, before, or after the date the bill becomes law.
The retroactive application allows patients who have already incurred or paid for past services to benefit from these protections and seek reimbursement.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 7
R· South Dakota
YRS IN OFFICE
7
BILLS LED
39
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 85%
DEM 4 REP 3 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 18
Introduced in House
FEB 18
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.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 1418
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 18, 2025
Last actionFeb 18, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 18, 2025
House BillHR 1418Indian social and development programsHealth care costs and insurance
Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act of 2025
INTRODUCED FEB 18, 2025· LAST ACTION FEB 18, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
7
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
