§1603 Definitions

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter so people and agencies use the same meanings. It names terms like offices, programs, types of care, who counts as “Indian,” and kinds of health services. Area office — an IHS regional office that helps run local services; Behavioral health — combined mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment done together; California Indian — an Indian eligible under section 1679; Community college — a tribal college or a junior/community college; Contract health service — care a tribal or IHS program refers or pays for but that a non-IHS provider gives; Department — the Department of Health and Human Services; Disease prevention — actions to stop disease or its complications, including controls like diabetes or infections and things like immunizations or water fluoridation; FAE — fetal alcohol effect; FAS — fetal alcohol syndrome (brain problems, certain facial features, and growth delay tied to mother's alcohol use in pregnancy); Health profession — medical, nursing, dental, mental health, public health, allied health, and similar fields; Health promotion — activities to improve social, economic, environmental, and personal factors for health, including many programs such as nutrition, exercise, immunizations, prenatal care, substance abuse prevention, tobacco cessation, violence prevention, safe water, and other actions chosen by IHS or tribes; Indian health program — IHS-run programs, tribal health programs, or tribes that get IHS funding; Indians — people who are tribal members or otherwise recognized as Indian for these purposes; Indian tribe — a tribe or group recognized as eligible for U.S. Indian services; Junior or community college — as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1058(e); Reservation — reservation, Pueblo, colony, old Oklahoma reservations, Indian allotments, and Alaska Native regions; Secretary — the Secretary of Health and Human Services; Service — the Indian Health Service; Service area — the geographic area an Area office serves; Service unit — a local IHS or tribal unit that provides services; Substance abuse — includes inhalant abuse; Telehealth — as defined in 42 U.S.C. 254c–16(a); Telemedicine — electronic links that let health workers or patients exchange 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 health services with IHS funding or under a self‑determination contract; Tribal organization — as defined in 25 U.S.C. 450b; Urban center — a community with enough urban Indians and unmet needs to get help; Urban Indian — a person living in an urban center who meets certain criteria; Urban Indian organization — a nonprofit in an urban center run by urban Indians to serve their community and work with others.