Primary Funding Streams for Native American Healthcare

Healthcare for Native American communities is primarily supported by federal appropriations through the Indian Health Service (IHS), supplemented by other federal programs like Medicaid and tribal revenues.

The top 3

  1. Indian Health Service Appropriations: The Indian Health Service (IHS) is the principal federal agency, with an annual budget (e.g., $9.1 billion requested for FY 2027) dedicated to providing and funding healthcare for eligible Native Americans.
  2. Medicaid and Medicare Contributions: Medicaid is a primary source of health coverage for Native communities, covering over one in three American Indian and Alaska Native individuals under 65, and is a significant funding source for IHS and Tribal health facilities.
  3. Tribal Self-Governance and Own-Source Revenue: Many tribes leverage the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to manage their own healthcare programs with IHS funding, and some supplement these services with their own tribal revenues or other grants.

Sources

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