For Patients

The Oyate Health Center is a tribally-owned and operated walk-in primary care clinic located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The facility is under the management of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board on behalf of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and Rosebud Sioux Tribe. 

Our health center is built upon an integrated approach to healthcare based on the following principles:

• Tribal Ownership
• Team-Based Care
• Culturally-Respectful Care
• Compassionate Care
• Same Day Access

The Oyate Health Center is located at:

3200 Canyon Lake Dr.
Sioux San building
Rapid City, South Dakota
57701

Hours of Operation

Who qualifies?

The Oyate Health Center serves the Native American community of Rapid City and eligibility requirements for care are the same as the Indian Health’s Service.

The Indian Health Service is the health care system for federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Natives in the United States  .

The policies, standards, and procedures that determine if you can get care at an Indian Health program are in the Indian Health Manual Part 2, Chapter 1. Specific questions about getting health care can be answered by our staff in patient registration at the Oyate Health Center. 

You may also be able to get care at tribal health programs based on the Tribe’s agreement with IHS. You will have to contact these tribal health programs individually regarding health care being provided to a non-affiliated tribal member.

Purchased Referred Care

Purchased Referred Care (previously known as Contract Health) Service is a financial resource meant to assist in payment for healthcare services received by tribal citizens not available at a tribal health facility like the Oyate Health Center.

Funding for purchased referred care is decided upon by Congress. The lump-sum allocated is then divided nationally amongst Indian Health Service and tribally contracted health facilities. The level of funding each facility receives is based on the number of patients who had received care there in the last three years.

Oyate System of Care

The Oyate Health Center is implementing a new healthcare model called the Nuka System of Care.  It is built upon the simple, yet revolutionary belief that the relationship between the primary care team and the patient (known as the customer-owner) is the single most important tool in managing chronic disease, controlling health care costs, and improving the overall wellness of a population. Recognizing that individuals are ultimately in control of their own lifestyle choices and health care decisions, Nuka focuses on understanding each customer-owner’s unique story, values and influencers in an effort to engage them in their care and support long-term behavior change.

Financial Payment Details

The Oyate Health Center’s billing policies are identical to that of the Indian Health Service. There is no copay required to receive care if you do not have medical coverage and we do not turn patients away. Coverage for healthcare costs are dictated by the Purchased Referred Care policies. We also provide our patients with the opportunity to acquire other sources of medical coverage including medicaid/medicare, private insurance, and others.