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Every year, thousands of Native Americans are going without the health care they’re entitled to or are risking costly medical bills for treatment that should be covered. A new report by KFF Health News focuses on the Purchased/Referred Care program in which patients seek outside treatment that IHS doesn’t offer. The report says the PRC program denied more than $550 million in payment requests from outside medical facilities in 2022, putting patients on the hook financially. Some tribes with resources are able to establish tribally-run care. Others are working on tribal health insurance programs. We’ll get a look at the problem facing those relying on IHS, and what can be done to solve it.
GUESTS
Misty Heiden (enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and a descendent of the Red Lake Nation, Leech Lake Tribe, White Earth Nation, Ponca, and Omaha)
Brian Gunn (member of the Colville Tribe), represents Indian tribes as principal at Powers Law Firm
Arielle Zionts, rural health reporter with KFF Health News
Captain Joe Bryant (Cherokee Nation), chief executive officer of the Clinton Indian Health Center and lead for PRC agency priorities
Mentioned on the show: IHS Purchased/Referred Care online resources
- PRC Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.ihs.gov/prc/frequently-asked-questions-faq-s/
- PRC Patient Process for Authorization for Payment Infographic: https://www.ihs.gov/sites/prc/themes/responsive2017/display_objects/documents/PRC-ProcessHandout.pdf
- PRC Fact Sheet: https://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/factsheets/purchasedreferredcare/
- PRC User Guide: https://www.ihs.gov/sites/prc/themes/responsive2017/display_objects/documents/PRC_Users_Guide_IHS_FINAL.pdf
- PRC Eligibility: https://www.ihs.gov/prc/eligibility/
- PRC Appeal Process: https://www.ihs.gov/prc/appeal-process/
- PRC Patient Rights and Grievances: https://www.ihs.gov/prc/patient-rights-and-grievances/
- PRC Rates Information: https://www.ihs.gov/prc/prc-rates-information/
- Indian Health Manual: Chapter 3 – Purchased/Referred Care: https://www.ihs.gov/ihm/pc/part-2/chapter-3-purchased-referred-care/
- PRC Additional Resources: https://www.ihs.gov/prc/resources/
Break 1 Music: Thick as Thieves (song) Blue Moon Marquee (artist) Scream, Holler, and Howl (album)
Break 2 Music: Grateful Sun (song) Mike Bern (artist)
