IMPROVED ACCESS TO, AND DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE FOR INDIANS UNDER TITLES XIX AND XXI

Sec. 1139. [42 U.S.C. 1320b–9] (a) Agreements With States for Medicaid and CHIP Outreach On or Near Reservations To Increase the Enrollment of Indians in Those Programs.—

(1) In general.—In order to improve the access of Indians residing on or near a reservation to obtain benefits under the Medicaid and State children’s health insurance programs established under titles XIX and XXI, the Secretary shall encourage the State to take steps to provide for enrollment on or near the reservation. Such steps may include outreach efforts such as the outstationing of eligibility workers, entering into agreements with the Indian Health Service, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations to provide outreach, education regarding eligibility and benefits, enrollment, and translation services when such services are appropriate.

(2) Construction.—Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed as affecting arrangements entered into between States and the Indian Health Service, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, or Urban Indian Organizations for such Service, Tribes, or Organizations to conduct administrative activities under such titles

(b) Requirement To Facilitate Cooperation.—The Secretary, acting through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall take such steps as are necessary to facilitate cooperation with, and agreements between, States and the Indian Health Service, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, or Urban Indian Organizations with respect to the provision of health care items and services to Indians under the programs established under title XIX or XXI.

(c) Definition of Indian; Indian Tribe; Indian Health Program; Tribal Organization; Urban Indian Organization.—For purposes of this section, title XIX, and title XXI, the terms “Indian”, “Indian Tribe”, “Indian Health Program”, “Tribal Organization”, and “Urban Indian Organization” have the meanings given those terms in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.