IHS selects five projects for Joint Venture health care facilities

Partnerships with tribes will expand access to health care in Indian Country

The Indian Health Service has selected five projects for new or expanded health care facilities through the IHS Joint Venture Construction Program. For nearly 30 years, this program has strengthened partnerships with tribes across the country and expanded access to comprehensive, culturally appropriate health services for American Indian and Alaska Native people.

“The IHS Joint Venture Construction Program provides meaningful partnership and collaboration with our tribal partners as we work together to accomplish the IHS mission of raising the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level,” said Rear Adm. Michael D. Weahkee, IHS director.

Selected Projects

IHS Area	Tribe or Tribal Organization	Facility Type	Location
Alaska Area	Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium	Inpatient	Sitka, Alaska
Alaska Area	Chugachmiut	Outpatient	Seward, Alaska
Great Plains Area	Three Affiliated Tribes	Outpatient	Newtown, North Dakota
Oklahoma City Area	Chickasaw Nation	Outpatient	Newcastle, Oklahoma
Portland Area	Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation	Outpatient	Omak, Washington

The program enables a partnership in which a tribe or tribal organization constructs, acquires, or renovates a facility using non-IHS funds, and leases it to the IHS at no cost for 20 years. In return, IHS requests funding from Congress to staff, operate and maintain the facility. Since 1991, more than 25 tribes have partnered to provide more than 30 facilities, from health centers to hospitals, increasing access to quality health care services for their communities.

More than 40 applications were received for the current round of this highly competitive program. Projects were selected through a two-phase process, which included evaluation by an objective review team comprised of members representing tribes, tribal organizations, the IHS, and the Department of Health and Human Services. The selected tribes and tribal organizations will now be required to prepare planning documents. The IHS will work with each tribe or tribal organization to develop a joint venture agreement, which includes the specific responsibilities and authorities of each party.

The IHS, an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states. Follow the agency via social media on Facebook and Twitter .