---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 1603"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "1603"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/1603"
units:
  - "Chapter 18 — Indian Health Care"
---

# §1603. Definitions


In this chapter:

- (1) **Area office—** The term “Area office” means an administrative entity including a program office, within the [Indian](#13) Health [Service](#18) through which [services](#18) and funds are provided to the [service units](#20) within a defined geographic area.
- (2) **Behavioral health—**
  - (A) **In general—** The term “behavioral health” means the blending of substance (alcohol, drugs, inhalants, and tobacco) abuse and mental health disorders prevention and treatment for the purpose of providing comprehensive [services](#18).
  - (B) **Inclusions—** The term “[behavioral health](#2-A)” includes the joint development of [substance abuse](#21) and mental health treatment planning and coordinated case management using a multidisciplinary approach.
- (3) **California Indian—** The term “California Indian” means any [Indian](#13) who is eligible for health [services](#18) provided by the [Service](#18) pursuant to [section 1679 of this title](/usc/25/1679.md).
- (4) **Community college—** The term “community college” means—
  - (A) a [tribal college or university](#24); or
  - (B) a [junior or community college](#15).
- (5) **Contract health service—** The term “contract health service” means any health [service](#18) that is—
  - (A) delivered based on a referral by, or at the expense of, an [Indian health program](#12); and
  - (B) provided by a public or private medical provider or hospital that is not a provider or hospital of the [Indian health program](#12).
- (6) **Department—** The term “Department”, unless otherwise designated, means the Department of Health and Human [Services](#18).
- (7) **Disease prevention—**
  - (A) **In general—** The term “disease prevention” means any activity for—
    - (i) the reduction, limitation, and prevention of—
      - (I) disease; and
      - (II) complications of disease; and
    - (ii) the reduction of consequences of disease.
  - (B) **Inclusions—** The term “[disease prevention](#7-A)” includes an activity for—
    - (i) controlling—
      - (I) the development of diabetes;
      - (II) high blood pressure;
      - (III) infectious agents;
      - (IV) injuries;
      - (V) occupational hazards and disabilities;
      - (VI) sexually transmittable diseases; or
      - (VII) toxic agents; or
    - (ii) providing—
      - (I) fluoridation of water; or
      - (II) immunizations.
- (8) **FAE—** The term “FAE” means fetal alcohol effect.
- (9) **FAS—** The term “fetal alcohol syndrome” or “FAS” means a syndrome in which, with a history of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the following criteria are met:
  - (A) Central nervous system involvement such as mental retardation, developmental delay, intellectual deficit, microencephaly, or neurologic abnormalities.
  - (B) Craniofacial abnormalities with at least 2 of the following: microophthalmia, short palpebral fissures, poorly developed philtrum, thin upper lip, flat nasal bridge, and short upturned nose.
  - (C) Prenatal or postnatal growth delay.
- (10) **Health profession—** The term “Health profession” means allopathic medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatric medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, podiatric medicine, nursing, public health nursing, dentistry, psychiatry, osteopathy, optometry, pharmacy, psychology, public health, social work, marriage and family therapy, chiropractic medicine, environmental health and engineering, an allied health profession, or any other health profession.
- (11) **Health promotion—** The term “health promotion” means any activity for—
  - (A) fostering social, economic, environmental, and personal factors conducive to health, including raising public awareness regarding health matters and enabling individuals to cope with health problems by increasing knowledge and providing valid information;
  - (B) encouraging adequate and appropriate diet, exercise, and sleep;
  - (C) promoting education and work in accordance with physical and mental capacity;
  - (D) making available safe water and sanitary facilities;
  - (E) improving the physical, economic, cultural, psychological, and social environment;
  - (F) promoting culturally competent care; and
  - (G) providing adequate and appropriate programs, including programs for—
    - (i) abuse prevention (mental and physical);
    - (ii) community health;
    - (iii) community safety;
    - (iv) consumer health education;
    - (v) diet and nutrition;
    - (vi) immunization and other methods of prevention of communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS;
    - (vii) environmental health;
    - (viii) exercise and physical fitness;
    - (ix) avoidance of [fetal alcohol spectrum disorders](/usc/25/1665.md?p=5-A);
    - (x) first aid and CPR education;
    - (xi) human growth and development;
    - (xii) injury prevention and personal safety;
    - (xiii) [behavioral health](#2-A);
    - (xiv) monitoring of disease indicators between health care provider visits through appropriate means, including Internet-based health care management systems;
    - (xv) personal health and wellness practices;
    - (xvi) personal capacity building;
    - (xvii) prenatal, pregnancy, and infant care;
    - (xviii) psychological well-being;
    - (xix) reproductive health and family planning;
    - (xx) safe and adequate water;
    - (xxi) healthy work environments;
    - (xxii) elimination, reduction, and prevention of contaminants that create unhealthy household conditions (including mold and other allergens);
    - (xxiii) stress control;
    - (xxiv) [substance abuse](#21);
    - (xxv) sanitary facilities;
    - (xxvi) sudden infant death syndrome prevention;
    - (xxvii) tobacco use cessation and reduction;
    - (xxviii) violence prevention; and
    - (xxix) such other activities identified by the [Service](#18), a [tribal health program](#25), or an [urban Indian organization](#29) to promote achievement of any of the objectives referred to in [section 1602(2) of this title](/usc/25/1602.md?p=2).
- (12) **Indian health program—** The term “Indian health program” means—
  - (A) any health program administered directly by the [Service](#18);
  - (B) any [tribal health program](#25); and
  - (C) any [Indian tribe](#14) or [tribal organization](#26) to which the [Secretary](#17) provides funding pursuant to [section 47 of this title](/usc/25/47.md).
- (13) **Indians or Indian—** The term “Indians” or “Indian”, unless otherwise designated, means any person who is a member of an [Indian tribe](#14), as defined in subsection (d) hereof,[^1] except that, for the purpose of sections [1612](/usc/25/1612.md) and [1613](/usc/25/1613.md) of this title, such terms shall mean any individual who[^2]
  - (A) ,[^3] irrespective of whether he or she lives on or near a [reservation](#16-A), is a member of a tribe, band, or other organized group of [Indians](#13), including those tribes, bands, or groups terminated since 1940 and those recognized now or in the future by the State in which they reside, or who is a descendant, in the first or second degree, of any such member, or
  - (B) is an Eskimo or Aleut or other Alaska Native, or
  - (C) is considered by the [Secretary](#17) of the Interior to be an [Indian](#13) for any purpose, or
  - (D) is determined to be an [Indian](#13) under regulations promulgated by the [Secretary](#17).
- (14) **Indian tribe—** The term “Indian tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or group or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [[43 U.S.C. 1601](/usc/43/1601.md) et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and [services](#18) provided by the United States to [Indians](#13) because of their status as [Indians](#13).
- (15) **Junior or community college—** The term “junior or community college” has the meaning given the term in section 1058(e)[^1] of title 20.
- (16) **Reservation—**
  - (A) **In general—** The term “reservation” means a reservation, Pueblo, or colony of any [Indian tribe](#14).
  - (B) **Inclusions—** The term “[reservation](#16-A)” includes—
    - (i) former [reservations](#16-A) in Oklahoma;
    - (ii) [Indian](#13) allotments; and
    - (iii) Alaska Native Regions established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ([43 U.S.C. 1601](/usc/43/1601.md) et seq.).
- (17) **Secretary—** The term “Secretary”, unless otherwise designated, means the Secretary of Health and Human [Services](#18).
- (18) **Service—** The term “Service” means the [Indian](#13) Health Service.
- (19) **Service area—** The term “Service area” means the geographical area served by each [area office](#1).
- (20) **Service unit—** The term “Service unit” means an administrative entity of the [Service](#18) or a [tribal health program](#25) through which [services](#18) are provided, directly or by contract, to eligible [Indians](#13) within a defined geographic area.
- (21) **Substance abuse—** The term “Substance abuse” includes inhalant abuse.
- (22) **Telehealth—** The term “telehealth” has the meaning given the term in [section 254c–16(a) of title 42](/usc/42/254c–16.md?p=a).
- (23) **Telemedicine—** The term “telemedicine” means a telecommunications link to an end user through the use of eligible equipment that electronically links health professionals or patients and health professionals at separate sites in order to exchange health care information in audio, video, graphic, or other format for the purpose of providing improved health care [services](#18).
- (24) **Tribal college or university—** The term “tribal college or university” has the meaning given the term in [section 1059c(b) of title 20](/usc/20/1059c.md?p=b).
- (25) **Tribal health program—** The term “tribal health program” means an [Indian tribe](#14) or [tribal organization](#26) that operates any health program, [service](#18), function, activity, or facility funded, in whole or part, by the [Service](#18) through, or provided for in, a contract or compact with the [Service](#18) under the [Indian](#13) Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ([25 U.S.C. 450](/usc/25/450.md) et seq.).[^1]
- (26) **Tribal organization—** The term “tribal organization” has the meaning given the term in [section 4](/usc/25/4.md) of the [Indian](#13) Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ([25 U.S.C. 450b](/usc/25/450b.md)).[^1]
- (27) **Urban center—** The term “Urban center” means any community which has a sufficient [urban Indian](#28) population with unmet health needs to warrant assistance under subchapter IV, as determined by the [Secretary](#17).
- (28) **Urban Indian—** The term “Urban Indian” means any individual who resides in an [urban center](#27), as defined in subsection (g) hereof,[^1] and who meets one or more of the four criteria in subsection (c)(1) through [(4)](#4) of this section.[^1]
- (29) **Urban Indian organization—** The term “Urban Indian organization” means a nonprofit corporate body situated in an [urban center](#27), governed by an [urban Indian](#28) controlled board of directors, and providing for the maximum participation of all interested [Indian](#13) groups and individuals, which body is capable of legally cooperating with other public and private entities for the purpose of performing the activities described in [section 1653(a) of this title](/usc/25/1653.md?p=a).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.
[^2]: So in original. Probably should be followed by a dash.
[^3]: So in original. The comma probably should not appear.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–437, § 4, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1401; Pub. L. 96–537, § 2, Dec. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 3173; Pub. L. 100–713, title II, §§ 201(b), 203(b), title V, § 502, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4803, 4804, 4824; Pub. L. 102–573, § 3(c), title IX, § 902(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4529, 4591; Pub. L. 104–313, § 2(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3820; Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10221(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 935.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 94–437, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1400, known as the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of this title and Tables.

Subsection (d) hereof, referred to in par. (13), was redesignated par. (14) of this section by section 10221(a) of Pub. L. 111–148.

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in pars. (14) and (16)(B)(iii), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1601 of Title 43, and Tables.

Section 1058(e) of title 20, referred to in par. (15), probably means section 1058(f) of title 20, which defines “junior or community college”. Section 1058(e) of title 20 was redesignated section 1058(f) of title 20 by Pub. L. 105–244, title III, § 303(b)(1), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1639.

The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, referred to in pars. (25) and (26), is Pub. L. 93–638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2203, which was classified principally to subchapter II (§ 450 et seq.) of chapter 14 of this title prior to editorial reclassification as chapter 46 (§ 5301 et seq.) of this title. Section 4 of the Act was classified to section 450b of this title prior to editorial reclassification as section 5304 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of this title and Tables.

Subsection (g) hereof, referred to in par. (28), was redesignated par. (27) of this section by section 10221(a) of Pub. L. 111–148.

Subsection (c)(1) through (4) of this section, referred to in par. (28), was redesignated par. (13)(A) to (D) of this section by section 10221(a) of Pub. L. 111–148.

### Codification

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–148 is based on section 104 of title I of S. 1790, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, as reported by the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate in Dec. 2009, which was enacted into law by section 10221(a) of Pub. L. 111–148.

### Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–148 substituted “In this chapter:” for “For purposes of this chapter—” in introductory provisions, redesignated pars. in subsecs. (c), (j), (k), and (l) as subpars. and realigned margins, redesignated subsecs. (a) to (q) as pars. (17), (18), (13), (14), (26), (28), (27), (29), (1), (20), (11), (7), (19), (10), (21), (8), and (9), respectively, and realigned margins, struck out former pars. (7), (9), (11), (20), and (26), as so redesignated, added pars. (2) to (7), (9), (11), (12), (15), (16), (20), and (22) to (26), arranged pars. in numerical order, and inserted heading and “The term” after each par. designation. Prior to amendment, pars. (7), (9), (11), (20), and (26), as so redesignated, defined disease prevention, FAS, health promotion, service unit, and tribal organization, respectively. Amendment directing redesignation of pars. contained in subsec. (c) as subpars. was executed by redesignating pars. (1) to (4) as subpars. (A) to (D), respectively, as the probable intent of Congress. Amendment directing the striking of paragraph “(12) (as redesignated by paragraph (3))” could not be executed because there was no par. (12) redesignated by par. (3).

1996—Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 104–313 inserted “allopathic medicine,” before “family medicine” and substituted “an allied health profession, or any other health profession” for “and allied health professions”.

1992—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–573, § 902(1), substituted “sections 1612 and 1613 of this title” for “sections 1612, 1613, and 1621(c)(5) of this title”.

Subsecs. (m) to (q). Pub. L. 102–573, § 3(c), added subsecs. (m) to (q).

1988—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–713, § 502, inserted “urban” after “governed by an”.

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 100–713, § 201(b), added subsec. (i) and struck out former subsec. (i) which defined “rural Indian”.

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 100–713, § 201(b), added subsec. (j) and struck out former subsec. (j) which defined “rural community”.

Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 100–713, §§ 201(b), 203(b), added subsec. (k) and struck out former subsec. (k) which defined “rural Indian organization”.

Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 100–713, § 203(b), added subsec. (l).

1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–537, § 2(a), substituted “Secretary of Health and Human Services” for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare”.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 96–537, § 2(b), substituted “governed by an Indian controlled board of directors” for “composed of urban Indians”.

Subsecs. (i) to (k). Pub. L. 96–537, § 2(c), added subsecs. (i) to (k).