Veterans Health Administration

VHA Office of Tribal Health

The Office of Tribal Health was established in December 2021 and directly reports to the VHA Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Health. The Office provides VHA with leadership, guidance, and strategic direction to support American Indian/Alaska Native Veteran health care and access. Dr. Christie Prairie Chicken, an expert on Native American health care, serves as the Office’s director and has more than 34 years of federal government experience.

VHA-Indian Health Service Memorandum of Understanding

The intent of the VHA-Indian Health Service (IHS) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to ensure that both organizations achieve greater accountability, prioritization and success in service to Native Veterans. VHA’s management of the MOU transitioned from the VHA Office of Rural Health to the Office of Tribal Health in May 2024. To achieve the MOU’s goals and objectives, VHA and IHS established five workgroups that align to the VHA-IHS MOU Executive Committee, which include Access, Resource Sharing, Data/Metrics & IT, Outreach, and Communications.

VHA Clinic-in-a-Clinic

VHA and IHS partnered to implement interagency agreements for the Clinic-in-a-Clinic, which places VHA providers in IHS facilities to provide VHA health care to Native Veterans. In 2024, VHA opened two clinics in highly-rural Arizona locations, Chinle and Kayenta, and is exploring additional locations in partnership with IHS.

Apply for the American Indian/Alaska Native Veteran Copayment Exemption

Since implementing the Copayment Exemption in April 2023, VA has exempted and/or reimbursed for more than 300,000 copayments totaling more than $5.3 million.

The Office of Tribal Health frequently provides Copayment Exemption communications and outreach to encourage Veteran applications. If VA partners wish to help spread the word, the Office developed a communications and outreach toolkit that contains approved language for use where the intended audience is Veterans. Please contact the Office at VHAOfficeofTribalHealth@va.gov to obtain a copy of the toolkit.

To apply for the Copayment Exemption, eligible Native Veterans must complete three steps:

1. Make a copy of one of the following official Tribal documents: Tribal Enrollment or Citizenship/Membership ID Card; or Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Documentation issued by a Tribe on official letterhead indicating individual affiliation.
2. Fill out VA Form 10-334 and make a copy. The form can be found at https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-10-334.
3. Mail copies of both documents to the address below:

VHA Tribal Documentation
PO Box 5100
Janesville, WI 53547-5100

Please note that Veterans must be enrolled in VA health care to receive the Copayment Exemption. Learn more.

Office of Tribal Health Outreach

The Office of Tribal Health provides outreach across the nation and welcomes the opportunity to partner during events hosted by others. Please email VHAOfficeofTribalHealth@va.gov about upcoming outreach opportunities.

Resources

The table below contains links to additional resources that may be useful for Veterans, their families, and caregivers.

Contact Us

The Office of Tribal Health may be contacted at VHAOfficeofTribalHealth@va.gov.

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