IHS statement on continuation of emergency department services at Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna Service Unit

The Indian Health Service remains committed to providing comprehensive, quality health care to patients at the Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna Service Unit. The facility is continuing to provide emergency department services 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Primary care, behavioral health, dental, radiology (including CT imaging), laboratory, pharmacy, and other ancillary services will also continue to be provided at ACL Service Unit. IHS is working diligently to ensure clinical and medical providers are available to provide services.

The IHS continues to prepare to transfer the administration of some programs, functions, services, and activities currently provided by the IHS Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna Service Unit to the Laguna Healthcare Corporation on behalf of the Pueblo of Laguna. This transfer will be made through a contract pursuant to Title I of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. The assumption date was scheduled for February 1, 2021, when the Laguna Healthcare Corporation was scheduled to open a new health center. The Laguna Healthcare Corporation has now asked to delay the assumption until March 1, 2021.

The IHS Albuquerque Area continues to communicate regularly with the leaders of the affected tribes. We value our partnership with the tribes we serve and look forward to continuing to work together to provide access to comprehensive, high quality health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The IHS supports tribal self-determination and self-governance to strengthen the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Indian tribes. The IHS respects the choices of tribes to assume the responsibility of providing health care services to their communities in accordance with federal law.