§1603 Definitions

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter so people know what each term means. Area office — an Indian Health Service (IHS) office that runs programs and gives funds for a set region. Behavioral health — combined substance (alcohol, drugs, inhalants, tobacco) and mental health prevention and treatment, including joint treatment planning and coordinated case management. California Indian — an Indian eligible for health services under section 1679. Community college — a tribal college or a junior/community college. Contract health service — care paid for or referred by an Indian health program but given by a non‑IHS provider. Department — the Department of Health and Human Services. Disease prevention — actions to lower disease, its complications, and consequences, including controlling chronic and infectious diseases and providing measures like water fluoridation and immunizations. FAE — fetal alcohol effect. FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) — diagnosed when maternal alcohol use during pregnancy is present along with serious central nervous system problems, at least two typical facial birth defects, and slowed growth before or after birth. Health profession — medical, dental, nursing, public health, behavioral health, allied health, and many other health occupations. Health promotion — activities that improve health by encouraging healthy habits, safe environments, education, access to water and sanitation, culturally competent care, and programs such as immunizations, nutrition, exercise, substance‑abuse prevention, prenatal care, tobacco cessation, violence prevention, and health monitoring (including internet‑based systems). Indian health program — an IHS program, a tribal health program, or a tribe/organization that gets funding under section 47. Indians/Indian — generally a member of an Indian tribe (see subsection (d)); for sections 1612 and 1613 the term also covers tribal members or descendants (including terminated or state‑recognized tribes), Alaska Natives (Eskimo or Aleut), people the Secretary of the Interior treats as Indian, or people the Secretary treats as Indian under regulations. Indian tribe — a tribe, band, nation, or organized group recognized as eligible for special U.S. programs, including Alaska Native villages and corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Junior or community college — as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1058(e). Reservation — a reservation, Pueblo, or colony of any tribe, and includes former Oklahoma reservations, Indian allotments, and Alaska Native Regions under ANCSA. Secretary — the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Service — the Indian Health Service. Service area — the geographic area served by an area office. Service unit — an IHS or tribal administrative unit that provides services directly or by contract in a set area. Substance abuse — includes inhalant abuse. Telehealth — as defined in 42 U.S.C. 254c–16(a). Telemedicine — a telecom link using approved equipment to connect patients and health professionals at separate sites to share audio, video, images, or other health information to improve care. Tribal college or university — as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b). Tribal health program — a tribe or tribal organization that runs a health program funded, in whole or part, by the Service under contract or compact under the Indian Self‑Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.). Tribal organization — as defined in 25 U.S.C. 450b. Urban center — a community with enough urban Indian population and unmet health needs to qualify for help under subchapter IV, as the Secretary decides. Urban Indian — someone who lives in an urban center (see subsection (g)) and meets one or more of the four criteria in subsection (c)(1)–(4). Urban Indian organization — a nonprofit in an urban center, run by an urban Indian board, open to Indian groups, and able to work with public and private partners to carry out activities in section 1653(a).