Veterans TBI Adaptive Care Opportunities Nationwide Act of 2025
In Committee
Introduced:Nov 6, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Dave Harold McCormick
Senator
Republican
PA
Cosponsors
4
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Native Americans
Summary
This bill aims to improve the Indian Health Service (IHS) by addressing issues with staffing, pay, training, and oversight. It would require the IHS to update its pay system, provide housing assistance for employees, and establish better training and credentialing processes. The bill also creates new offices and programs to monitor and improve the quality of care provided at IHS facilities.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill aims to improve the Indian Health Service (IHS) by addressing issues with staffing, pay, training, and oversight. It would require the IHS to update its pay system, provide housing assistance for employees, and establish better training and credentialing processes. The bill also creates new offices and programs to monitor and improve the quality of care provided at IHS facilities.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Restoring Accountability in the Indian Health Service Act of </strong><strong>2023</strong></p><p>This bill establishes a series of programs and requirements relating to recruitment and retention in the Indian Health Service (IHS), including provisions regarding pay, credentialing, and housing needs of workforce personnel.</p><p>Among other provisions, the bill</p><ul><li>requires the establishment of a pay system for health care professionals employed by IHS that is based on the pay system for health care professionals employed by the Veterans Health Administration,</li><li>authorizes a program to provide tenant-based rental assistance to certain IHS employees,</li><li>requires IHS to establish a centralized medical credentialing system, and</li><li>expands eligibility for the IHS Loan Repayment Program.</li></ul><p>Additionally, the bill</p><ul><li>outlines additional hiring requirements for IHS,</li><li>requires employees and health care providers who enter into a contract with IHS to annually complete mandatory training on tribal culture and history,</li><li>establishes a demonstration program to provide IHS units with additional staffing resources, </li><li>requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish best practices for governing boards and area offices,</li><li>establishes a compliance assistance program for underperforming hospitals or outpatient facilities,</li><li>establishes the Office of Patient Advocacy, and</li><li>requires IHS to establish regulations for standards to measure the timeliness of the provision of health care services in IHS facilities.</li></ul><p>The bill also outlines certain employee protections, including whistle-blower protections.</p><p>The bill establishes various reporting requirements. For example, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the housing and staffing needs of IHS.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires the IHS to establish a pay system for healthcare professionals that matches the pay of the Veterans Health Administration
Authorizes a program to provide rental assistance for certain IHS employees
Requires IHS employees and providers to complete mandatory training on tribal culture and history
Establishes new oversight offices and programs to monitor and improve the quality of care at IHS facilities
Outlines various reporting requirements to increase transparency and accountability
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
If enacted, this bill would primarily impact Native American communities that rely on the Indian Health Service for their healthcare. It aims to address longstanding issues with staffing and quality of care at IHS facilities by implementing new programs and requirements. The changes could lead to improved recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in IHS, as well as higher-quality and more culturally-competent care for Native patients.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Native Americans
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
3130, 119th Congress (2025). "Veterans TBI Adaptive Care Opportunities Nationwide Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-3130
