Ciscomani Urges HHS Secretary Kennedy to Keep Tucson Indian Health Services Open

Tucson, AZ - U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani is urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to suspend plans to close a federal health care facility in Tucson that serves nearly 28,000 members of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Tohono O'odham Nation.

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., Ciscomani called the Tucson Area Office of the Indian Health Service an essential lifeline for the two Southern Arizona tribes.

"For tribal communities across Arizona's Sixth District, Tucson Indian Health Services is a critical health care lifeline, serving nearly 28,000 members of our local community. Closing this facility would have damaging effects that ripple throughout Southern Arizona, forcing patients to travel farther for care and placing additional strain on the Phoenix office. I am urging Secretary Kennedy to carefully reconsider the proposed consolidation and ensure tribal communities are fully consulted before any final decisions are made surrounding the Tucson IHS. Arizona's tribal communities deserve continued access to the quality care and services they have relied on for decades," said Representative Ciscomani.

Under the proposed HHS plan, administrative and oversight functions currently based in Tucson would move to Phoenix. This would require patients, tribal health staff, and administrators to travel more than 100 miles to access services and support that have been available locally in Arizona's Sixth District for nearly 20 years.

The proposed consolidation has also raised concerns about the future of specialized services, including dedicated diabetes care, which could be disrupted by the reorganization.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe applauded Congressman Ciscomani's leadership in raising concerns about the potential closure and advocating for continued access to critical health services in Southern Arizona.

"On behalf of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, I thank Congressman Ciscomani for reaching out directly to Secretary Kennedy and advocating for Arizona's Tribal communities; preserving the Tucson Area IHS Office is critical to protecting the health care and federal services our people depend on," said Pascua Yaqui Chairman Julian Hernanadez.

​In his letter to Secretary Kennedy, Representative Ciscomani urged the IHS to take a closer look at the proposed consolidation and consider the concerns raised by tribal leaders and health care providers.

"Specifically, I am writing regarding the Indian Health Service's (IHS) proposal to eliminate the Tucson Area Office and consolidate its functions into the Phoenix Area Office. I represent Arizona's Sixth District, which borders tribal communities of Southern Arizona, and I have heard from tribal leaders, health care providers, and constituents who are concerned about what this change would mean for their access to care.

"I wanted to bring their perspective to your attention and ask that IHS take a closer look before moving forward. The Tucson Area Office coordinates health services for approximately 28,000 patients, the great majority of whom are tribal citizens of Southern Arizona. Under the proposed consolidation, administrative and oversight functions currently based in Tucson would move to Phoenix, which could require patients, tribal health staff, and administrators to travel more than 100 miles, and in some cases up to two hours, for services and support that are currently available locally. I have also heard concerns that specialized programs such as diabetes care could be disrupted as part of this reorganization."

Congressman Ciscomani has made strengthening Arizona's tribal communities and protecting their access to critical resources a priority during his time in Congress. He has championed the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement (NAIWRSA) Act (H.R. 2025), legislation that addresses one of Arizona's longest-running water challenges by securing water rights for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.

The agreement also provides the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe with opportunities to lease their water rights, creating new economic opportunities, while authorizing $5 billion to build and maintain critical water infrastructure throughout the region. The legislation also establishes a homeland for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.

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