42 CFR 136.23 – Persons to whom contract health services will be provided
(a) In general. To the extent that resources permit, and subject to the provisions of this subpart, contract health services will be made available as medically indicated, when necessary health services by an Indian Health Service facility are not reasonably accessible or available, to persons described in and in accordance with § 136.12 of this part if those persons:
(1) Reside within the United States and on a reservation located within a contract health service delivery area; or
(2) Do not reside on a reservation but reside within a contract health service delivery area and:
(i) Are members of the tribe or tribes located on that reservation or of the tribe or tribes for which the reservation was established; or
(ii) Maintain close economic and social ties with that tribe or tribes.
(b) Students and transients. Subject to the provisions of this subpart, contract health services will be made available to students and transients who would be eligible for contract health services at the place of their permanent residence within a contract health service delivery area, but are temporarily absent from their residence as follows:
(1) Student—during their full-time attendance at programs of vocational, technical, or academic education, including normal school breaks (such as vacations, semester or other scheduled breaks occurring during their attendance) and for a period not to exceed 180 days after the completion of the course of study.
(2) Transients (persons who are in travel or are temporarily employed, such as seasonal or migratory workers) during their absence.
(c) Other persons outside the contract health service delivery area. Persons who leave the contract health service delivery area in which they are eligible for contract health service and are neither students nor transients will be eligible for contract health service for a period not to exceed 180 days from such departure.
(d) Foster children. Indian children who are placed in foster care outside a contract health service delivery area by order of a court of competent jurisdiction and who were eligible for contract health services at the time of the court order shall continue to be eligible for contract health services while in foster care.
(e) Priorities for contract health services. When funds are insufficient to provide the volume of contract health services indicated as needed by the population residing in a contract health service delivery area, priorities for service shall be determined on the basis of relative medical need.
(f) Alternate resources. The term “alternate resources” is defined in § 136.61(c) of subpart G of this part.