42 C.F.R. § 136.21
Definitions.
Cite as 42 C.F.R. § 136.21 (2026)
(a)
Alternate resources
is defined in § 136.61 of subpart G of this part.
(b)
Appropriate ordering official
means, unless otherwise specified by contract with the health care facility or provider, the ordering official for the contract health service delivery area in which the individual requesting contract health services or on whose behalf the services are requested, resides.
(c)
Area Director
means the Director of an Indian Health Service Area designated for purposes of administration of Indian Health Service programs.
(d)
Contract health service delivery area means
the geographic area within which contract health services will be made available by the IHS to members of an identified Indian community who reside in the area, subject to the provisions of this subpart.
(e)
Contract health services
means health services provided at the expense of the Indian Health Service from public or private medical or hospital facilities other than those of the Service.
(f)
Emergency
means any medical condition for which immediate medical attention is necessary to prevent the death or serious impairment of the health of an individual.
(g)
Indian tribe
means any Indian tribe, band, nation, group, Pueblo, or community, including any Alaska Native village or Native group, which is federally recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
(h)
Program Director
means the Director of an Indian Health Service “program area” designated for the purposes of administration of Indian Health Service programs.
(i)
Reservation
means any federally recognized Indian tribe's reservation. Pueblo, or colony, including former reservations in Oklahoma, Alaska Native regions established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601
et seq.
), and Indian allotments.
(j)
Secretary
means the Secretary of Health and Human Services to whom the authority involved has been delegated.
(k)
Service
means the Indian Health Service.
(l)
Service Unit Director
means the Director of an Indian Health Service “Service unit area” designated for purposes of administration of Indian Health Service programs.
[64 FR 58320, Oct. 28, 1999. Redesignated and amended at 67 FR 35342, May 17, 2002]
- Cross-references to the US Code
- 43:1601
- Cross-references to the CFR
- 136.61