H.R. 3670: IHS Provider Expansion Act

This bill aims to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act by establishing an Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs within the Indian Health Service (IHS). The main purpose of this new office is to enhance the recruitment and training of healthcare professionals in Indian health facilities. Below are the key components of the bill:

Establishment of the Office

The Secretary of Health and Human Services will set up this Office within the Indian Health Service.

Duties of the Office

The Office will have several responsibilities, including:

• Creating pathways for individuals to join residency and fellowship programs in healthcare.
• Overseeing existing residency and fellowship programs and facilitating the creation of new programs in IHS facilities to help with recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.
• Acting as a central hub for residency programs within IHS facilities.
• Consulting and coordinating with academic institutions to align training programs.
• Organizing educational and training programs for medical students and other healthcare trainees.

Interagency Working Group

An interagency working group will be formed, which will include representatives from various governmental departments such as Veterans Affairs, Labor, and Health Resources and Services Administration. This group will assist in:

• Implementing the Office.
• Planning for its long-term sustainability.

The working group is required to provide quarterly reports to Congress about its activities and will be disbanded ten years after the bill's enactment.

Funding

The bill authorizes funding of not less than $4,000,000 for the fiscal year 2027 and the same amount for each subsequent fiscal year, contingent on the availability of appropriations.

Relevant Companies

None found