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1 1 (May 01, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdadc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: COVID-19 and the Indian Health Service Updated May 1, 2020 The Indian Health Service (IHS) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the lead federal agency charged with improving the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives. In FY2019, IHS provided health care to approximnatcly 2.6 million eligible Ainerican Indians/Alaska Natives, Its total FY2020 annual appropriation was $6.2 billion, As of April 30, IHS has seen more than 3,000 positive tests for coronavirus among its service population. In particular, the Navaio Nation has experienced one of the largest outbreaks nationally. IHS Is a Three-Tiered System with Resource Constraints IHS provides health care either directly or through facilities and programs operated by Indian tribes (ITs) or tribal organizations (TOs) through self-determination contracts and self-governance compacts authorized under P.L. 93-638. IHS also provides services to urban Indians through grants or contracts to Urbani Indiani Organizations (UlOs). The system is referred to as the /TU svstem, and services available vary. UlOs offer outpatient services, while the IHS and the ITs may provide both otipationt and inpatient care, 11-IS does not offer a standard bencfit package, nor is it required to cover certain services that its beneficiaries may receive at facilities outside of IHS. When services are not available at an IHS facility, facilities may authorize payment through the Purchased Refirrcd Care Program (PRC). PRC biinds are limited, and as such, not all PRC claims are authorized; however, IHS has stated that COVID-19 care meets its medical priorty for payment. UlOs do not have access to PRC fiuls. IHS and COVID-19 As noted, FT/Us have reported cases of COVID-19; the abiiitx to test for coronavirus and to treat active cases varies throughout its system. Initially, tribes reported some testing challenges, such as shortages of tests, the materials necded to administer testing, and the pcrsonal protvctive eqtupinent (PPE) needed by ieaith providers, IHS has since receed rapid testisng, but these were distributed to sorne, not all IHS sites. Despite improvements, IHS faces challenges in delivering COVID-19 care. Specifically, provider vacmncios have been a long-standing IHS challenge, which may be exacerbated if providers are exposed or sickened by coronavirus. In addition, some IHS personnol are members of the Commissionod Corps who have been deployed outside of the IIS system to respond to the disaster, which could increase Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11333 CRS NSMGHT Prepared forN Members and Cornm :tees of Conqr ress ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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