Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act
Latest action (5 Aug 2026): Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
What this bill does
S. 1055 would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to set a uniform 15-day notification window for emergency contract health services provided to Indians by non-Indian Health Service (IHS) providers or facilities. Currently, a different notification deadline applies specifically to elderly or disabled Indian beneficiaries under this provision; the bill restructures the law so that the 15-day window becomes the general rule for all Indians receiving such emergency care, while preserving the existing separate rule for elderly or disabled beneficiaries as a distinct subsection.
The bill affects Indians who receive emergency medical care from non-IHS providers or facilities under IHS contract-health-service authority, as well as the providers and IHS staff who must meet this notification deadline as a condition of payment for the emergency treatment. By standardizing the timeframe, it aims to align payment-eligibility rules for emergency claims across this beneficiary population.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on March 13, 2025, by Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), with Senator Cortez Masto as a cosponsor, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. On August 5, 2026, the committee voted to order the bill reported to the full Senate without amendment. The next step would be consideration by the full Senate; the bill would also need to pass the House and be signed by the President to become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Indian Health Service Emergency Claims Parity Act
This bill extends from 72 hours to 15 days the time period to notify the Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) program of emergency medical care received from a non-Indian Health Service (IHS) medical provider or at a non-IHS medical facility. This bill does not apply to individuals who are elderly or disabled, who continue to have a 30-day notification requirement for emergency services.
The IHS provides medical and dental services directly to American Indian and Alaska Native patients whenever possible. The PRC program pays for medical or dental care that is provided away from an IHS or tribal health care facility. The PRC program must be notified of requests for authorization of payment for health care services from a non-IHS provider.
Currently in emergency cases, the patient, an individual on behalf of the patient, or the medical care provider must, within 72 hours after the beginning of treatment for the condition or after admission to a health care facility, notify a PRC authorizing official of the need for the emergency medical care. This bill instead allows the patient, other individual, or provider to notify PRC within 15 days of the treatment or admission.
Timeline
5 Aug 2026
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 1055 do?
- S. 1055 would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to set a uniform 15-day notification window for emergency contract health services provided to Indians by non-Indian Health Service (IHS) providers or facilities. Currently, a different notification deadline applies specifically to elderly or disabled Indian beneficiaries under this provision; the bill restructures the law so that the 15-day window becomes the general rule for all Indians receiving such emergency care, while preserving the existing separate rule for elderly or disabled beneficiaries as a distinct subsection. The bill affects Indians who receive emergency medical care from non-IHS providers or facilities under IHS contract-health-service authority, as well as the providers and IHS staff who must meet this notification deadline as a condition of payment for the emergency treatment. By standardizing the timeframe, it aims to align payment-eligibility rules for emergency claims across this beneficiary population. The bill was introduced in the Senate on March 13, 2025, by Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), with Senator Cortez Masto as a cosponsor, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. On August 5, 2026, the committee voted to order the bill reported to the full Senate without amendment. The next step would be consideration by the full Senate; the bill would also need to pass the House and be signed by the President to become law.
- Has S. 1055 become law?
- Not yet. As of 5 Aug 2026, S. 1055 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored S. 1055?
- S. 1055 was sponsored by Sen. Mike Rounds [R-SD] (Republican-SD), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 1055?
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. (5 Aug 2026).
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