About Us

The Tucson Area Indian Health Service (IHS) works in partnership with the Tohono O’odham Nation and Pascua Yaqui Tribe in providing technical assistance to the primary health care and community outreach services of the Tohono O'odham Nation (to.ho.no aah.tum), , the Pascua Yaqui Tribe (pah.skwah ya.ke) of Arizona, and a growing and diverse urban Indian population. The Tohono O’odham Nation Healthcare Sells Service Unit (SSU) operates a 14-bed hospital in Sells, AZ and three outpatient health centers on the Tohono O'odham Nation through a tribal Self-Determination PL-93-638 Title V compact, treating approximately 21,106 patients annually. Health care services for the Pascua Yaqui tribal members of Pima County are provided through a tribal Self-Determination PL 93-638 Title V contract with approximately 6,858 users.

Effective July 1, 2016, the Indian Health Service and the Tohono O’odham Nation entered into a self-governance compact and funding agreement as authorized by Title V of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. Effective 10/01/17, the Indian Health Service and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe entered into a self- governance compact and funding agreement as authorized by Title V of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

These agreements in the Tucson Area brings self-governance activities into all 12 IHS Areas.

Our History

On March 1, 1997, the Office of Health Program Research and Development (a IHS headquarters office) was changed to its new designation - the Tucson Area Office (published in the Federal Register, Vol.61, No.245, dated December 19, 1996). Currently, the Tucson Area Office is one of 12 Area Offices of the Indian Health Service (IHS).