25 U.S.C. § 1638g: Mobile health stations…

Summary

The Secretary, through the Service, must set up a demonstration program that funds at least 3 mobile health station projects. An eligible tribal consortium is a group of 2 or more service locations that a mobile unit can reach by road in up to 8 hours; locations run by the Service or by tribes can join. A mobile health station is a health unit that fits inside a semi-trailer truck or similar vehicle, is set up to provide one or more specialty services, and can connect to a fixed clinic when needed. A specialty health care service needs a clinician with special training and can include dialysis, surgery, mammography, dentistry, or other specialty care. To get a mobile station, a consortium must send a petition that describes the Indian population to be served, the specialty services requested and how available they are now, plus any other information the Secretary asks for. Program money can buy, lease, or maintain mobile stations, pay for services they provide, use existing mobile stations (even if owned or rented by the Service), and buy or keep docking equipment, including at modular component facilities. The Secretary must report to Congress within 1 year of starting the program and every year after about each activity, its success, and the benefits of more mobile stations. Congress authorized $5,000,000 per year for the first 5 fiscal years, and then whatever sums are needed later.

Title 25, §1638g

Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definitions

In this section: (1) Eligible tribal consortium

(2)Mobile health station

The term “mobile health station” means a health care unit that—

(A)is constructed, maintained, and capable of being transported within a semi-trailer truck or similar vehicle;

(B)is equipped for the provision of 1 or more specialty health care services; and

(C)can be equipped to be docked to a stationary health care facility when appropriate.

(3)Specialty health care service

(A)In general

The term “specialty health care service” means a health care service which requires the services of a health care professional with specialized knowledge or experience.

(B)Inclusions

The term “specialty health care service” includes any service relating to—

(i)dialysis;

(ii)surgery;

(iii)mammography;

(iv)dentistry; or

(v)any other specialty health care service.

(b)Establishment

The Secretary, acting through the Service, shall establish a demonstration program under which the Secretary shall provide at least 3 mobile health station projects.

(c)Petition

To be eligible to receive a mobile health station under the demonstration program, an eligible tribal consortium shall submit to the Secretary, a petition at such time, in such manner, and containing—

(1)a description of the Indian population to be served;

(2)a description of the specialty service or services for which the mobile health station is requested and the extent to which such service or services are currently available to the Indian population to be served; and

(3)such other information as the Secretary may require.

(d)Use of funds

The Secretary shall use amounts made available to carry out the demonstration program under this section— (1)

(2)to employ an existing mobile health station (regardless of whether the mobile health station is owned or rented and operated by the Service) to provide specialty health care services to an eligible tribal consortium; and

(3)to establish, purchase, or maintain docking equipment for a mobile health station, including the establishment or maintenance of such equipment at a modular component health care facility (as defined in section 1638f(a) of this title), if applicable.

(e)Reports

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the demonstration program is established under subsection (b) and annually thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the Service, shall submit to Congress a report describing—

(1)each activity carried out under the demonstration program including an evaluation of the success of the activity; and

(2)the potential benefits of increased use of mobile health stations to provide specialty health care services for Indian communities.

(f)Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 per year to carry out the demonstration program under this section for the first 5 fiscal years, and such sums as may be needed to carry out the program in subsequent fiscal years.

Editorial Notes

Codification section 313 of Pub. L. 94–437 is based on section 147 of title I of S. 1790, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, as reported by the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate in Dec. 2009, which was enacted into law by section 10221(a) of Pub. L. 111–148.

§1638g Mobile Health Stations Demonstration Program

Summary

Title 25, §1638g

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Citations & Metadata