PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 25, 2017
Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of 2017
This bill amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a pay system for health care professionals employed by Indian Health Service (IHS) that is competitive with the salary of health care professionals employed by the Veterans Health Administration. HHS may establish incentives related to IHS employee recruitment and retention by providing relocation costs and rental assistance to employees under certain circumstances.
In addition, IHS must: centralize its credentialing system for licensed health professionals seeking to provide health care services at its facilities,
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establish standards to measure the timeliness of health care services in its facilities,
implement an annual mandatory program that provides cultural training for certain IHS employees and contractors, and
establish a demonstration project to provide additional staffing resources to understaffed IHS facilities.
Liability protections are given to certain health care professionals who volunteer at IHS facilities.
The bill expands the IHS student loan repayment program to include loan repayments for degrees related to health administration. HHS may: (1) directly hire candidates to positions within IHS; and (2) remove, transfer, or demote certain IHS employees based on performance or misconduct. HHS must establish a tribal consultation policy for IHS. The bill establishes: (1) whistle blower protections for IHS employees, and (2) requirements concerning IHS fiscal accountability and transparency.
People & committees
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] · R–WY
Legislative record
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Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-89.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Jan 21, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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