Welcome to the California Area of the Indian Health Service

There are currently 31 California Tribal health programs operating 57 ambulatory clinics under the authority of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. IHS funds eight Urban Indian health programs that operate under the authority of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA). 

None of the Tribal facilities and programs currently operating in California originated as facilities previously operated by the IHS, as is the case in other IHS Areas. Population sizes and dispersion of Tribal groups in the California area make it unlikely that a hospital-based service program will develop within the area, similar to other IHS Areas where the federal government has built, staffed and maintained hospitals and satellite clinics on Indian reservations.

Tribal programs will continue to rely on private and public hospitals to meet inpatient and emergency needs.