Funding of the IHCRC community-based nonprofit corporation
Indian Health Care Resource Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, community-based agency, which is controlled and directed by a locally-elected board of directors. For 30 years we have been committed to improving the physical and mental health of Tulsa area urban Indians. Since our founding in 1976, Indian Health Care has been an integral and positive part of the Tulsa community. Indian Health Care Resource Center (IHCRC) is an Oklahoma nonprofit corporation and is not a unit of the Federal Government, nor is it affiliated with any tribal government. A majority of the Board members are American Indian consumers of the Clinic’s services and are elected by the user membership of the Resource Center.
IHCRC is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that is funded through an array of sources, including federal, state and private grants and contracts, third party reimbursements and private donations. In FY 2006, our annual operating budget exceeded $11 million. We are an Indian Health Service Urban Program contractor. Our IHS funding provides the base financial support that enables our agency to offer our services on a sliding fee basis to enrolled members of federally recognized tribes. Much of our health care is provided at no cost to our clients.
IHCRC bills for all available third party-reimbursement (Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, workman's comp). Although many patients lack health insurance, the health center’s eligibility staff assists clients qualify for Medicare, Medicaid and SoonerCare insurance. We also use a sliding fee scale to bill clients without health insurance. Fees are discounted on a graduated scale up to 200% of the federal poverty level. Care is provided, regardless of ability to pay. Patients without health insurance are assured they will receive care if they cannot pay.
Many of the health and prevention services provided by Indian Health Care are funded through competitive grants and contracts secured by the agency. Local, state, federal and private philanthropic grants and contracts support a wide array of the services provided at our comprehensive health center. Major federal grants currently support the "Circles of Care" children's behavioral health iniative, diabetes and obesity interventions, and a number of Indian youth healthy lifestyle programs. IHCRC has ongoing state contracts for substance abuse treatment, breast and cervical cancer screening, and physical activity programs to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Private grants help support programs in breast cancer prevention and tobacco cessation. A contract with the Tulsa Health Department supports the Healthy Start perinatal infant mortality prevention program.
The Indian Health Care Resource Center Board of Trustees is most appreciative of the philanthropic support the organization enjoys. When we moved to our new clinic in 1999, philantropic contributions were used to help furnish and equip the new facility. In 2004, local philanthopies provided financial support to upgrade to our clinic pharmacy with the installation of a robtic prescription filling machine.
All charitable donations made to Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, Inc. are fully tax-deductible. For information on making a gift or contribution to support our health center operations, our endowment fund or our capital development program, please contact Emily Bolusky, Public Relations Manager @ 918-382-1206 or email Emily at ebolusky@ihcrc.org . You may write to: Emily Bolusky, Indian Health Care Resource Center, 550 South Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74120.