Puyallup Tribal Health Authority

What Puyallup Tribal Health Authority does

Puyallup Tribal Health Authority (PTHA) is a comprehensive multi-specialty tribal health authority serving American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) across Pierce County, Washington. Founded in 1976 as the first tribal ambulatory health clinic in the United States to enter a 638 Self-Determination contract with the Indian Health Service, PTHA is chartered by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and operates as a tribally owned, non-profit healthcare division. The organization employs more than 250 staff, volunteers, contractors, and students, and serves over 13,000 patients from more than 300 federally recognized tribes, with approximately 30% of patients being Puyallup tribal members. Service delivery is concentrated at the Tacoma campus, comprising the Takopid Health Center (medical, dental, pharmacy, lab, x-ray, community health) and the Kwawachee building (behavioral health, traditional healing, administration), with training partnerships at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital and Mary Bridge Children's Hospital.

PTHA's core offerings span primary medical care, dental, behavioral health (mental health and addictions treatment including MAT), pediatrics, pharmacy, laboratory, x-ray, and community health programs such as WIC and diabetes management. Underlying technology includes an Electronic Health Record system (transitioning to a new platform with the MyChart/OCHIN patient portal in June 2026), a 24/7 SMS text line, and a legacy Intelichart portal being retired. The organization also runs the first tribal AOA family medicine residency program in the country (established 2011, ACGME-accredited 2018), with Osteopathic Recognition and a faculty pipeline in which 45% identify as Native American or Native Alaskan. PTHA integrates traditional Native American practices (Elder involvement, knowledge keepers, Canoe Journey, Community Sweats) with western medicine and osteopathic principles.

Revenue is derived from the IHS 638 Self-Determination contract, direct Puyallup Tribe funding (including Referred Services for enrolled members), third-party insurance billing (Medicaid, Medicare, private), and Purchased Referred Care for referred medical and dental services. GTM is eligibility-based and direct-to-patient: patients must register annually with tribal enrollment documentation and Pierce County residency proof, then access services via phone, text, the patient portal, or walk-in same-day visits. Marketing occurs through the website, MyChart portal, Facebook/Instagram, the SMS text line, and community events such as health fairs. In 2024 PTHA consolidated substance use disorder treatment and mental health into a single Integrated Behavioral Health Department (k̓ax̓ačiʔ) and began construction of a new office building adjacent to Kwawachee to expand service capacity. The organization is accreditated by AAAHC as a Primary Care Health Care Facility, Patient Centered Medical Home, and Dental Home, with COLA laboratory accreditation, and is celebrating its 50-year anniversary in 2026.

Name

Puyallup Tribal Health Authority

Legal name

Puyallup Tribal Health Authority

Website

https://puyalluptribalhealthauthority.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Puyallup Tribal Health Authority is a tribally chartered multi-specialty clinic in Tacoma, Washington, delivering medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and community health services to over 13,000 American Indians/Alaska Natives from 300+ federally recognized tribes in Pierce County under a 638 Self-Determination contract with the Indian Health Service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tribal Healthcare Services

NAICS

Ambulatory Health Care Services (621)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Tribal healthcare services
• Primary care clinic
• Behavioral health treatment
• Community health programs
• Pharmacy dispensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Indian Health Service Funding: PTHA operates under a 638 Self-Determination contract with Indian Health Service, receiving federal healthcare funding for eligible AI/AN patients.
2. Puyallup Tribe Funding: Puyallup Tribe provides funding for Referred Services for Puyallup Tribal members, including expanded healthcare coverage not otherwise provided at PTHA or covered under purchased referred care.
3. Purchased Referred Care: PRC benefit provides funding for referred medical and dental services not available at PTHA for eligible patients who have established Direct Care.
4. Third-Party Insurance Billing: PTHA accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. Patients are required to apply for alternate resources including these insurance programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Puyallup Tribal Health Authority operates a multi-specialty tribal health clinic delivering comprehensive healthcare services, including primary medical care, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, pediatrics, X-ray and laboratory, community health programs, and Purchased Referred Care, to eligible American Indians/Alaska Natives in Pierce County, Washington. The organization also runs an ACGME-accredited Family Medicine Residency Program with osteopathic recognition, training physicians in full-spectrum care that integrates traditional Native American medicine with western practices.

Product overview

Puyallup Tribal Health Authority is a multi-specialty tribal health clinic providing comprehensive healthcare services to American Indian/Alaska Native patients across Pierce County, Washington. The organization operates as a unified healthcare delivery system offering primary medical care, dental services, behavioral health (mental health and addiction treatment), pharmacy, pediatrics, laboratory, and imaging services. Core clinical operations are supported by an Electronic Health Record system and MyChart patient portal for patient access. PTHA also operates an accredited Family Medicine Residency Program with osteopathic recognition, training physicians in full-spectrum family medicine with emphasis on Native health and traditional medicine integration. Services are delivered through two main facilities: Takopid Health Center (medical, dental, lab, pharmacy, x-ray, community health) and Kwawachee Building (behavioral health, administration). The organization serves patients from over 300 tribes with a population exceeding 13,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• kʷaxʷačiʔ Behavioral Health & Wellness: Integrated behavioral health program combining substance use disorder treatment and mental health services.
• WIC Program

Products and services

• Medical Services Primary care medical services open to all eligible American Indian/Alaska Native residents of Pierce County, including preventive care, chronic disease management, and same-day visits.
• Dental Services Comprehensive dental care including preventive, restorative, and emergency dental treatments for eligible patients; PTHA's Dental Program holds AAAHC Dental Home accreditation.
• Behavioral Health Services Comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment including individual and group therapy, crisis counseling, suicide prevention, medication-assisted treatment, and integrated substance use disorder and mental health care under one department.
• Pharmacy On-site pharmacy providing prescription medications with a 24/7 refill line (253-593-0114), dedicated Elder refill line, and text notifications for ready prescriptions.
• Pediatrics Pediatric healthcare services for children including well-child exams, immunizations, and developmental assessments.
• X-Ray & Lab Services Diagnostic imaging and laboratory services including X-ray and medical lab testing; COLA-accredited laboratory meets quality standards in day-to-day operations and proficiency testing.
• Community Health Services Community-based health programs including diabetes management, nutrition and fitness coaching, WIC services, and tobacco/vaping cessation programs.
• Purchased Referred Care Funding program for medical and dental services not available at PTHA, covering referred care for eligible tribal members and descendants who have established Direct Care.
• Family Medicine Residency Program ACGME-accredited family medicine residency program with osteopathic recognition, training physicians in full-spectrum care with emphasis on Native American health and traditional medicine integration; over 50% of graduates work in Native Healthcare and over 60% in underserved communities.
• Puyallup Tribal Member Referred Services Expanded healthcare coverage for enrolled Puyallup Tribal members and eligible spouses, funding medical services not provided at PTHA or covered under other programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50% of residency graduates go on to work in Native Healthcare
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Seven Directions, Center for Indigenous Public Health at University of WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026PTHA is partnering with Seven Directions, a Center for Indigenous Public Health at the University of Washington, to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment. This partnership ensures the process honors both cultural knowledge and public health best practices while identifying health priorities, barriers to care, and community strengths.
• Center for Indigenous MidwiferyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Rhonda Grantham and her team, the Center for Indigenous Midwifery provides culturally rooted support for breastfeeding mothers through community events and education.
• Indian Health Service (IHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPTHA operates under the first 638 Self-Determination contract with Indian Health Service in the United States. IHS leaders visited PTHA in November 2025 to discuss ongoing work and partnership strengthening.
• Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPTHA has a direct voice at NPAIHB to ensure community needs are represented in critical health policy discussions.
• MultiCare Tacoma General HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidents train at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital and Mary Bridge Children's Hospital for inpatient care, with obstetric training also at Tacoma General and in Auburn, WA.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Seattle Indian Health Board: Urban Indian health organization serving AI/AN populations in the greater Seattle area, providing medical, dental, behavioral health, and community health services under a similar IHS-funded model. Highly comparable given shared Pacific Northwest geography, AI/AN patient base, and family medicine residency training presence.
• Southcentral Foundation: Alaska Native tribal health organization operating the same 638 Self-Determination contracting model with IHS, serving Alaska Native and American Indian beneficiaries through a comprehensive primary care, behavioral health, and community wellness system. One of the most operationally comparable tribal health authorities in the country.
• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium: Consortium providing statewide tribal health services to Alaska Native communities, including hospital-level and ambulatory care. Comparable in mission, 638 contracting structure, and breadth of services offered to AI/AN populations.
• Native American Health Center: Urban Indian health organization serving AI/AN and other underserved communities in California's Bay Area with medical, dental, behavioral health, and community wellness programs. Comparable patient mix and multi-service ambulatory care model.
• Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority: Tribally operated healthcare system serving the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians with hospital and ambulatory services under the 638 model. Directly comparable as a tribally chartered health authority delivering comprehensive care to a defined AI/AN population.
• Oklahoma City Indian Clinic: Urban Indian health clinic serving AI/AN patients in central Oklahoma with medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. Comparable in service mix, target population, and accreditation-driven operating model.
• Winslow Indian Health Care Center: IHS/tribal healthcare facility serving Navajo and other AI/AN patients in northeastern Arizona with comprehensive ambulatory and inpatient services. Comparable as a tribal/IHS-partnered multi-service healthcare provider.

Others

• Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board: Non-profit advisory and advocacy organization serving the 43 federally recognized tribes of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. PTHA explicitly holds a direct voice at NPAIHB, making it a peer ecosystem organization rather than a direct service competitor.
• National Indian Health Board: National advocacy organization representing tribal health interests before Congress and federal agencies. Adjacent to PTHA's policy and funding environment rather than a direct service provider.

Broad incumbents

• Indian Health Service: Federal agency within HHS that delivers healthcare to AI/AN populations and is PTHA's primary funder under the 638 contract. Operates a much broader network of direct-service hospitals and clinics nationwide, including overlapping ambulatory services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/puyalluptribalhealthauthority

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Puyallup Tribal Health Authority