View all text of Subchapter III [§ 1631 - § 1638g]
§ 1637. Indian health care delivery demonstration projects
(a) Purpose and general authority
(1) PurposeThe purpose of this section is to encourage the establishment of demonstration projects that meet the applicable criteria of this section to be carried out by the Secretary, acting through the Service, or Indian tribes or tribal organizations acting pursuant to contracts or compacts under the Indian Self Determination 1
1 So in original. Probably should be “Self-Determination”.
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.)— 22 See References in Text note below.
(A) to test alternative means of delivering health care and services to Indians through facilities; or
(B) to use alternative or innovative methods or models of delivering health care services to Indians (including primary care services, contract health services, or any other program or service authorized by this chapter) through convenient care services (as defined in subsection (c)), community health centers, or cooperative agreements or arrangements with other health care providers that share or coordinate the use of facilities, funding, or other resources, or otherwise coordinate or improve the coordination of activities of the Service, Indian tribes, or tribal organizations, with those of the other health care providers.
(2) AuthorityThe Secretary, acting through the Service, is authorized to carry out, or to enter into contracts or compacts under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) 2 with Indian tribes or tribal organizations to carry out, health care delivery demonstration projects that—
(A) test alternative means of delivering health care and services to Indians through facilities; or
(B) otherwise carry out the purposes of this section.
(b) Use of fundsThe Secretary, in approving projects pursuant to this section—
(1) may authorize such contracts for the construction and renovation of hospitals, health centers, health stations, and other facilities to deliver health care services; and
(2) is authorized—
(A) to waive any leasing prohibition;
(B) to permit use and carryover of funds appropriated for the provision of health care services under this chapter (including for the purchase of health benefits coverage, as authorized by section 1642(a) of this title);
(C) to permit the use of other available funds, including other Federal funds, funds from third-party collections in accordance with sections 1621e, 1621f, and 1641 of this title, and non-Federal funds contributed by State or local governmental agencies or facilities or private health care providers pursuant to cooperative or other agreements with the Service, 1 or more Indian tribes, or tribal organizations;
(D) to permit the use of funds or property donated or otherwise provided from any source for project purposes;
(E) to provide for the reversion of donated real or personal property to the donor; and
(F) to permit the use of Service funds to match other funds, including Federal funds.
(c) Health care demonstration projects
(1) Definition of convenient care serviceIn this subsection, the term “convenient care service” means any primary health care service, such as urgent care services, nonemergent care services, prevention services and screenings, and any service authorized by section 1621b of this title or 1621d(d) of this title, that is offered—
(A) at an alternative setting; or
(B) during hours other than regular working hours.
(2) General projects
(A) CriteriaThe Secretary may approve under this section demonstration projects that meet the following criteria:
(i) There is a need for a new facility or program, such as a program for convenient care services, or an improvement in, increased efficiency at, or reorientation of an existing facility or program.
(ii) A significant number of Indians, including Indians with low health status, will be served by the project.
(iii) The project has the potential to deliver services in an efficient and effective manner.
(iv) The project is economically viable.
(v) For projects carried out by an Indian tribe or tribal organization, the Indian tribe or tribal organization has the administrative and financial capability to administer the project.
(vi) The project is integrated with providers of related health or social services (including State and local health care agencies or other health care providers) and is coordinated with, and avoids duplication of, existing services in order to expand the availability of services.
(B) PriorityIn approving demonstration projects under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to demonstration projects, to the extent the projects meet the criteria described in subparagraph (A), located in any of the following Service units:
(i) Cass Lake, Minnesota.
(ii) Mescalero, New Mexico.
(iii) Owyhee and Elko, Nevada.
(iv) Schurz, Nevada.
(v) Ft. Yuma, California.
(3) Innovative health services delivery demonstration project
(A) Application or request
(B) Approval
(C) CriteriaThe Secretary shall approve under subparagraph (B) demonstration projects that meet all of the following criteria:
(i) The criteria set forth in paragraph (2)(A).
(ii) There is a lack of access to health care services at existing health care facilities, which may be due to limited hours of operation at those facilities or other factors.
(iii) The project—(I) expands the availability of services; or(II) reduces—(aa) the burden on Contract Health Services; or(bb) the need for emergency room visits.
(d) Technical assistance
(e) Service to ineligible persons
(f) Equitable treatment
(g) Equitable integration of facilities
(Pub. L. 94–437, title III, § 307, as added Pub. L. 101–630, title V, § 504, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4562; amended Pub. L. 102–573, title III, §§ 304, 307(b)(2), title VII, § 701(c)(2), title IX, § 902(4)(A), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4562, 4564, 4572, 4591; Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10221(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 935.)