MANDAN, N.D. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced bipartisan, commonsense legislation she introduced with Republican Senator Dean Heller of Nevada to make sure those who qualify for Indian Health Service (IHS) resources are able to use their Health Savings Accounts (HSA) when seeking health care at non-IHS facilities.

Currently, North Dakotans who have used IHS services can face challenges accessing their HSAs when seeking non-IHS care. Beneficiaries often encounter a three-month lag time in contributing to or using money from HSAs at non-IHS facilities, forcing them to instead to pay out-of-pocket at steep costs. Long a champion for improving access to affordable, quality health services for North Dakotans living in Indian Country, Heitkamp helped introduce a practical, bipartisan solution to make sure Native Americans can readily access their HSAs at non-IHS facilities so that they are not deterred from accessing the health care they deserve.

“Every American deserves access to quality health care, but too often, that’s not the reality on the ground for folks who have received Indian Health Service care,” said Heitkamp. “There is no reason why, after receiving care from IHS, Native families should have to pay out of pocket instead of using the health savings accounts they have paid for when they seek care at non-IHS facilities. That’s why I’m working with Senator Heller on a bipartisan, commonsense solution. By making sure Native communities can access their health savings accounts – at any facility – we can make sure every American can get quality, affordable care for themselves and their families.”

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