Index for HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Andrews) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

(a) Study.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the United States (in this section referred to as the “Comptroller General”) shall conduct a study on the utilization of health care furnished by health care providers under the contract health services program funded by the Indian Health Service and operated by the Indian Health Service, an Indian Tribe, or a Tribal Organization (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act).

(2) ANALYSIS.—The study conducted under paragraph (1) shall include an analysis of—

(A) the amounts reimbursed under the contract health services program described in paragraph (1) for health care furnished by entities, individual providers, and suppliers, including a comparison of reimbursement for such health care through other public programs and in the private sector;

(B) barriers to accessing care under such contract health services program, including, but not limited to, barriers relating to travel distances, cultural differences, and public and private sector reluctance to furnish care to patients under such program;

(C) the adequacy of existing Federal funding for health care under such contract health services program; and

(D) any other items determined appropriate by the Comptroller General.

(b) Report.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a), together with recommendations regarding—

(1) the appropriate level of Federal funding that should be established for health care under the contract health services program described in subsection (a)(1); and

(2) how to most efficiently utilize such funding.

(c) Consultation.—In conducting the study under subsection (a) and preparing the report under subsection (b), the Comptroller General shall consult with the Indian Health Service, Indian Tribes, and Tribal Organizations.