Jeff Bingaman: “the Bingaman-Thune amendment would build on section 506 to ensure that these requirements, the requirements that 506…”

“the Bingaman-Thune amendment would build on section 506 to ensure that these requirements, the requirements that 506 apply to hospitals that were contracted with by the IHS, apply not just to hospitals but to all participating Medicare providers and suppliers. In other words, the amendment would ensure that scarce contract health services dollars are used more efficiently, providers would be ensured a greater likelihood of receiving contract health services payments and would be provided continuity in the payment levels with other Federal programs. The Bingaman-Thune amendment is supported by a wide range of Indian health advocates, including the National Indian Health Board, the Navajo Nation, and First Nations Community Health Source in New Mexico. I urge my fellow Senators to join Senator Thune and myself in supporting this important amendment. In conclusion, I underscore that passage of this overall legislation, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, is critically needed and long overdue.”