In order to improve the access of Indians residing on or near a reservation to obtain benefits under the Medicaid and State children’s health insurance programs established under subchapters XIX and XXI, the Secretary shall encourage the State to take steps to provide for enrollment on or near the reservation. Such steps may include outreach efforts such as the outstationing of eligibility workers, entering into agreements with the Indian Health Service, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations to provide outreach, education regarding eligibility and benefits, enrollment, and translation services when such services are appropriate.

(1) In general In order to improve the access of Indians residing on or near a reservation to obtain benefits under the Medicaid and State children’s health insurance programs established under subchapters XIX and XXI, the Secretary shall encourage the State to take steps to provide for enrollment on or near the reservation. Such steps may include outreach efforts such as the outstationing of eligibility workers, entering into agreements with the Indian Health Service, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations to provide outreach, education regarding eligibility and benefits, enrollment, and translation services when such services are appropriate.

(2) Construction Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed as affecting arrangements entered into between States and the Indian Health Service, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, or Urban Indian Organizations for such Service, Tribes, or Organizations to conduct administrative activities under such subchapters.

The Secretary, acting through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall take such steps as are necessary to facilitate cooperation with, and agreements between, States and the Indian Health Service, Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, or Urban Indian Organizations with respect to the provision of health care items and services to Indians under the programs established under subchapter XIX or XXI.

For purposes of this section, subchapter XIX, and subchapter XXI, the terms “Indian”, “Indian Tribe”, “Indian Health Program”, “Tribal Organization”, and “Urban Indian Organization” have the meanings given those terms in section 1603 of title 25.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XI, § 1139, as added Pub. L. 100–203, title IX, § 9136, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–316; amended Pub. L. 100–647, title VIII, § 8201, Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3798; Pub. L. 101–45, title IV, § 409, June 30, 1989, 103 Stat. 130; Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6221, Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2255; Pub. L. 101–508, title IV, § 4207(k)(6), formerly § 4027(k)(6), title V, § 5057, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–125, 1388–230; Pub. L. 103–432, title I, § 160(d)(4), title II, § 264(d), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4444, 4468; Pub. L. 111–3, title II, § 202(a), Feb. 4, 2009, 123 Stat. 39; Pub. L. 111–148, title II, § 2901(d), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 333.)