Title 25 › CHAPTER 18 — INDIAN HEALTH CARE › SUBCHAPTER III — HEALTH FACILITIES › § 1637
Allows the Secretary, through the Indian Health Service, or Indian tribes and tribal organizations under contracts or compacts under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.), to run demonstration projects that test new ways to deliver health care to Indians. Projects can try different facility-based approaches or new delivery models such as convenient care, community health centers, or partnerships that share facilities, funding, or services. The Secretary can approve projects, fund construction or renovation of hospitals and clinics, waive leasing limits, let Service funds be used or carried over (including to buy health benefits under section 1642(a)), use other federal or non-Federal funds (including third-party collections under sections 1621e, 1621f, and 1641), accept donations, return donated property to donors, and match other funds. “Convenient care” means primary services like urgent care, nonemergency care, prevention, or screenings offered at alternative locations or outside normal hours, or services under sections 1621b or 1621d(d). To be approved, a project must show a real need, serve many Indians (including those in poor health), be efficient and economically viable, be run by a tribe with administrative and financial ability (if tribe-led), and coordinate with other providers to avoid duplication. Priority is given to projects in Cass Lake, MN; Mescalero, NM; Owyhee and Elko, NV; Schurz, NV; and Ft. Yuma, CA. The Secretary may approve up to 10 innovative project applications per fiscal year that also show lack of access and that expand services or reduce pressure on Contract Health Services or emergency rooms. The Secretary must offer technical help, may include care for otherwise ineligible people and non‑Service practitioners under section 1680c, and must treat tribal-run facilities the same as Service-run ones and include both kinds of facilities in planning.
Full Legal Text
Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
25 U.S.C. § 1637
Title 25, Indians
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110