June 2, 2025
Ms. Stansbury (for herself and Ms. Leger Fernandez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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
To amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to establish within the Indian Health Service an Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the IHS Provider Expansion Act
.
Sec. 2. Indian Health Service Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs
Title I of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1611 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
125. Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs
(a) Establishment
The Secretary, acting through the Service, (in this section referred to as the
Secretary) shall establish within the Service an Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs (in this section referred to as theOffice).(b) Duties
The Office shall have the following duties:
(1)
To create a pipeline for future health care professionals, paraprofessionals, and other health-related professionals (as identified by the Secretary) to participate in residency and fellowship programs.
(2)
To oversee current residency and fellowship programs at facilities of the Service and facilitate the establishment of additional residency programs that support recruitment and retention of health care professionals, paraprofessionals, and other health-related professionals (as identified by the Secretary) working at such facilities.
(3)
To serve as the central hub for residency programs at facilities of the Service.
(4)
To work in consultation or coordination with academic institutions.
(5)
To coordinate medical student and elective rotational and education track programs.
(c) Interagency working group
(1) In general
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall establish an interagency working group (in this subsection referred to as the
working group) to assist the Secretary in establishing the Office under subsection (a), including by—(A)
supporting the implementation of the Office; and
(B)
developing long-term planning for long-term sustainability of the Office.
(2) Quarterly reports
Not later than the date that is 120 days after the date of enactment of this section, and every 3 months thereafter, the working group shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the working group.
(3) Termination
The working group shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this section.
(d) Authorization of appropriations
Subject to the availability of appropriations, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, not less than—
(1)
$4,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and
(2)
$4,000,000 for each subsequent fiscal year.