To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on payments for contract health services.

SA 4083. Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself and Mr. Thune) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1200, to amend
the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to revise and extend the Act;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title I, add the following:

SEC. ___. GAO STUDY AND REPORT ON PAYMENTS FOR CONTRACT
HEALTH SERVICES.

(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
States (in this section referred to as the ``Comptroller
General'') shall conduct a study on the utilization of health
care furnished by health care providers under the contract
health services program funded by the Indian Health Service
and operated by the Indian Health Service, an Indian Tribe,
or a Tribal Organization (as those terms are defined in
section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act).
(2) Analysis.--The study conducted under paragraph (1)
shall include an analysis of--
(A) the amounts reimbursed under the contract health
services program described in paragraph (1) for health care
furnished by entities, individual providers, and suppliers,
including a comparison of reimbursement for such health care
through other public programs and in the private sector;
(B) barriers to accessing care under such contract health
services program, including, but not limited to, barriers
relating to travel distances, cultural differences, and
public and private sector reluctance to furnish care to
patients under such program;
(C) the adequacy of existing Federal funding for health
care under such contract health services program; and
(D) any other items determined appropriate by the
Comptroller General.
(b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit
to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection
(a), together with recommendations regarding--
(1) the appropriate level of Federal funding that should be
established for health care under the contract health
services program described in subsection (a)(1); and
(2) how to most efficiently utilize such funding.
(c) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection
(a) and preparing the report under subsection (b), the
Comptroller General shall consult with the Indian Health
Service, Indian Tribes, and Tribal Organizations.
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