S. 3130: Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2023

Additionally, the bill

• outlines additional hiring requirements for IHS,
• requires employees and health care providers who enter into a contract with IHS to annually complete mandatory training on tribal culture and history,
• establishes a demonstration program to provide IHS units with additional staffing resources,
• requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish best practices for governing boards and area offices,
• establishes a compliance assistance program for underperforming hospitals or outpatient facilities,
• establishes the Office of Patient Advocacy, and
• requires IHS to establish regulations for standards to measure the timeliness of the provision of health care services in IHS facilities.

The bill also outlines certain employee protections, including whistle-blower protections.

The bill establishes various reporting requirements. For example, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the housing and staffing needs of IHS.