Indian Health Care Amendments of 1984

(Measure passed House, amended (Inserted text of H.R. 6039))

Indian Health Care Amendments of 1984 - Amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, as amended by the Indian Health Care Amendments of 1980, to authorize specific appropriations for FY 1985-1987.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to grant Indian Health Scholarships to Indians enrolled full-time in certain schools for health professionals. Prohibits the denial of such scholarships solely on the basis of scholastic achievement if the applicant has been admitted into an accredited health professions institution.

Deems service under a contract pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act as meeting the active service requirements of the National Health Service Corps Scholarship program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985-1987.

Prohibits the payment of health professions preparatory scholarships to Indians who are employed in the Indian Health Service during nonacademic periods of the school year.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985-1987 for specified health services. Designates such appropriations the Indian Health Care Improvement Fund. Sets allocation guidelines. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress regarding a health services priority system.

Establishes an Indian Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund to meet the extraordinary costs of medical disasters or catastrophic illnesses. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding the Fund's operation by a certain time.

Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a health facilities priority system report regarding the construction or renovation needs of the top ten priority inpatient and ambulatory care facilities.

Requires the Secretary to notify the Congress one year prior to the planned closure of a health care facility.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) convey to the Bethel Native Corporation all Federal interest in specified property in Bethel, Alaska; and (2) sell to the Bethel Native Corporation a specified Service hospital and appurtenant facilities. Conditions such sale upon an agreement whereby the Corporation shall purchase the hospital and its facilities and the Service shall lease and operate such hospital and its facilities.

Directs the Secretary to begin implementing in FY 1985 a ten-year plan to provide safe water supply and sanitary sewage and solid waste disposal facilities to Indian homes and communities. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress the Service's current Indian sanitation facilities priority system, and the funds needed to raise all communities to a zero level of deficiency.

Authorizes specified appropriations to provide sanitation facilities.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial and technical assistance for the operation and maintenance of sanitation facilities, utility organizations, and emergency repairs of sanitation facilities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985-1987.

Directs the Secretary to contract with urban Indian organizations to provide health care or referral services programs in urban areas. Details eligibility criteria for such programs. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a report which assesses the health status and unmet health care needs of urban Indians. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985-1987.

Establishes the Office of Indian Health Service within the Public Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services (thus terminating the Indian Health Services as part of the Health Resources and Services Administration). Places such Office under the direction of an Administrator for Indian Health who shall report directly to the Assistant Secretary for Health. Delegates to such Administrator all health programs and authorities which are provided specifically for Indians. Allocates to the Office of Indian Health Service budget and personnel ceiling authority to implement the duties delegated to the Administrator.

Authorizes the Secretary to compensate Indian organizations for costs incurred in the use and administration of health services facilities.

Authorizes the Secretary to waive certain requirements for competitive procurement of health services if the responsible Chief Medical Officer certifies that such requirements would compromise the quality of health services.

Directs the Secretary to establish an Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse within the Indian Health Service. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985-1987.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to coordinate efforts with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Education to develop programs to combat alcohol and drug abuse among Indian juveniles, including preventive education programs in schools under the aegis of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to arrange with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of health hazards faced by Indians and Indian miners exposed to nuclear resource developments on or near Indian communities. Directs the Secretary and the Indian Health Service to develop a health care plan which addresses the results of such study.

Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress both the health hazard study and the ensuing health care plan, within certain times. Authorizes appropriations.

Establishes eligibility guidelines for certain California Indians and for certain persons who are otherwise ineligible for medical benefits provided by either the Indian Health Service or by tribes contracting with the Service. Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide a vaccination program to prevent and control hepatitis-B among Alaskan Natives; (2) report to the Congress regarding program details; and (3) recommend steps to control the incidence of hepatitis-B. Designates the State of California as a contract health service delivery area. Lists programs eligible for Indian Health Service funds. Restricts circumstances under which the Secretary may remove a member of the National Health Service Corps who is performing obligated service in a health facility under the aegis of the Indian Health Service.

Sets a deadline by which the Secretary must develop and implement a plan to reduce Indian infant and maternal mortality rates to that of the general population.