What is the Indian Health Care Improvement Act?

The Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) is a federal law passed in 1976 that established improved access to health care services for American Indians and Alaska Natives. In Tennessee, the IHCIA operates in conjunction with the Indian Health Service (IHS). The Act provides for improved health care services for those living on or near Native American reservations, in Remote Alaska Native Villages, and in urban Indian communities throughout the United States. The services provided are designed to meet the unique health care needs of these Native communities. Services provided include preventive care, mental health services, treatment for substance abuse, hospitalization, outreach programs, and consultation with Indian Health professionals. The Act also works to increase access to health care services through improvements in health care facilities, telecommunications services, and the delivery of health information, among other things. In Tennessee, the IHS operates the Cherokee Area Health Center in Chattanooga, and the W.W. Hastings Indian Hospital near Tahlequah. The IHCIA has been instrumental in the efforts to ensure that American Indians and Alaska Natives have access to quality health care services. This Act has been instrumental in improving the health outcomes of Native Americans in Tennessee, and throughout the country.

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