---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 1663"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "1663"
heading: "Office of Direct Service Tribes"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/1663"
units:
  - "Chapter 18 — Indian Health Care"
  - "Subchapter V — Organizational Improvements"
---

# §1663. Office of Direct Service Tribes

- (a) **Establishment—** There is established within the [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) an office, to be known as the “Office of Direct [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) Tribes”.
- (b) **Treatment—** The Office of Direct [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) Tribes shall be located in the Office of the Director.
- (c) **Duties—** The Office of Direct [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) Tribes shall be responsible for—
  - (1) providing [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18)-wide leadership, guidance and support for direct [service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) tribes to include strategic planning and program evaluation;
  - (2) ensuring maximum flexibility to tribal health and related support systems for [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) beneficiaries;
  - (3) serving as the focal point for consultation and participation between direct [service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) tribes and organizations and the [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) in the development of [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) policy;
  - (4) holding no less than biannual consultations with direct [service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) tribes in appropriate locations to gather information and aid in the development of health policy; and
  - (5) directing a national program and providing leadership and advocacy in the development of health policy, program management, budget formulation, resource allocation, and delegation support for direct [service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) tribes.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–437, title VI, § 603, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10221(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 935.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section 603 of Pub. L. 94–437 is based on section 172 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.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1663, Pub. L. 94–437, title VI, § 603, as added Pub. L. 102–573, title VI, § 603, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4571, authorized appropriations through fiscal year 2000 to carry out this subchapter, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10221(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 935. The repeal is based on section 101(b)(10) 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.