Cherokee Nation Health Services

What Cherokee Nation Health Services does

Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) is the largest tribally-operated health care system in the United States, owned and operated by the Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized Native American tribe with more than 470,000 registered citizens. Headquartered in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, CNHS delivers care across 11+ facilities — including W.W. Hastings Hospital (a 60-bed inpatient facility transitioning to a 127-bed replacement), the 469,000 sq ft Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center, the Jack Brown Center adolescent substance abuse facility, the Claremore Outpatient & Emergency Health Center (assumed October 2025), and a network of nine tribal health centers — spanning a 14-county reservation in northeastern Oklahoma and absorbing more than 1.6 million patient visits annually from over 100,000 patients. The system employs 2,200+ health services staff, including nearly 160 full-time providers, and operates an ACGME-accredited Family Medicine Residency Program in partnership with OMECO that supplies physicians trained in rural and underserved care.

The core technology stack is conventional multi-facility healthcare IT: a Cerner-powered patient portal (with iqhealth self-enrollment) for messaging providers, viewing lab results, and requesting prescription refills; a 24/7 online pharmacy refill system (MedRefill); and telemedicine consultations for stroke and neurological care delivered through Regional Brain Institute specialists under medical directorships covering stroke and ICU/critical care. The Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center carries LEED Silver certification, W.W. Hastings Hospital is a certified Primary Stroke Center, and Home Health Services is Medicare/Medicaid certified. CNHS also serves as a clinical training site for OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation, the first tribally-affiliated medical school in the United States.

CNHS does not generate revenue through commercial billing or insurance premiums. Instead, it is funded primarily through Indian Health Service (IHS) federal appropriations and joint venture arrangements, supplemented by third-party billing (Medicare, Medicaid, SoonerCare, Department of Veterans Affairs, private insurance), and by Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) contract health allocations based on the 14-county service population. Patient pricing is non-transactional: most services are federally funded and eligibility-gated by tribal citizenship, with select incentive programs (Hearing Aid Program, Crown and Bridge Program, Eyeglass Program, Jack Brown Center treatment) provided at zero or nominal copay. The customer base is restricted to Cherokee Nation citizens and members of other federally recognized tribes, and demand generation occurs through patient portal access, community outreach, patient benefit coordinators, and the Patient Experience Team rather than through conventional marketing channels.

Name

Cherokee Nation Health Services

Legal name

Cherokee Nation Health Services

Website

https://health.cherokee.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cherokee Nation Health Services is the largest tribally-operated US health care system, delivering inpatient, outpatient, behavioral, and specialty care to Cherokee Nation citizens and other federally recognized tribe members across 11+ facilities in northeastern Oklahoma. It is funded primarily by IHS federal appropriations and third-party billing, with no commercial revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tribal Healthcare Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (921150), Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (6219)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public/County Primary Care Clinics (HLAFAGAI), Tribal Health Sciences & Allied Health Colleges (Nursing/Allied Health Focus) (EDAHANAF)

Keywords

• Tribal healthcare services
• Primary medical care
• Behavioral health treatment
• Inpatient hospital services
• Community public health

Headquarters

HQ city

Tahlequah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Indian Health Service (IHS) Funding: Federally funded healthcare through IHS appropriations and joint venture agreements. Cherokee Nation assumed operations of W.W. Hastings Hospital through a joint venture with IHS.
2. Third-Party Insurance Billing: Revenue from Medicare, Medicaid, SoonerCare, Department of Veterans Affairs, private insurance, and other third-party resources. PRC is payer of last resort requiring patients to apply for all available resources.
3. Purchased and Referred Care (PRC): Contract health services for care provided outside tribal facilities. Funded through IHS PRC allocations based on service population and service area.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cherokee Nation Health Services operates the largest tribally-operated health care system in the United States, delivering comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, behavioral, rehabilitation, dental, pharmacy, and public health services to Cherokee Nation citizens and members of other federally recognized tribes across 11+ facilities. The system includes W.W. Hastings Hospital, the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center, Claremore Outpatient & Emergency Health Center, and a network of nine tribal health centers spanning a 14-county reservation. Funding flows primarily from Indian Health Service appropriations, federal grants, and third-party billing under PRC payer-of-last-resort rules.

Product overview

Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) operates the largest tribally-operated health care system in the United States, serving over 100,000 patients through 11+ health care facilities including W.W. Hastings Hospital (60-bed inpatient facility with Emergency Department, ICU, and Certified Primary Stroke Center), the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center (469,000 sq ft outpatient facility with surgery center), Claremore Outpatient & Emergency Health Center, and a network of nine tribal health centers. CNHS offers comprehensive healthcare including Behavioral Health Services, Rehabilitation Services (PT/OT/Speech), Neurology Services (in partnership with Regional Brain Institute), Same Day Clinic, Dental Services, HIV & Hepatitis C Services, Public Health Programs, Home Health Services (Medicare/Medicaid certified), and the Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) program. Additional services include specialty programs such as Hearing Aid Program (100% coverage for Cherokee citizens), Crown and Bridge Program, and CNHS Eyeglass Program. The Patient Portal (powered by Cerner Health) enables online access to appointments, lab results, and prescription refills. CNHS also operates the ACGME-accredited Cherokee Nation Family Medicine Residency Program in partnership with OMECO (Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• W.W. Hastings Hospital 60-bed inpatient hospital providing Emergency Department (24/7), Urgent Care, Intensive Care Unit, Step Down Unit, Medical-Surgical, Pediatric Inpatient Services, OB/Newborn, Inpatient and Outpatient Surgery, Inpatient Dialysis, Certified Primary Stroke Center, and Substance Misuse Treatment services for eligible Native Americans.
• Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center 469,000 sq ft four-story outpatient health facility (largest CNHS facility) with Ambulatory Surgery (5 surgical suites, 2 endoscopy suites), Audiology, Endoscopy Lab, Medical Specialties, Orthopedics, Physical Rehabilitation & Wellness, Podiatry, Primary Care, Specialty Clinic, Women's Health, Optometry, Behavioral Health, Radiology, Lab, Pharmacy, Dental, and resident clinic services. LEED Silver certified.
• Claremore Outpatient & Emergency Health Center Only CNHS health center with an Emergency Department, providing Community Health Nursing, Diabetes Education, Infusion & Transfusion Clinic, MAT Clinic, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Purchased & Referred Care, Speech Therapy, Transportation Services, and Women's Clinic to be expanded under a new $255.5 million facility.
• Health Centers Network Network of nine tribal outpatient health centers providing primary and specialty care across the 14-county reservation area: Amo Health Center (Salina), Cooweescoowee Health Center (Ochelata), Redbird Smith Health Center (Sallisaw), Sam Hider Health Center (Jay), Three Rivers Health Center (Muskogee), Vinita Health Center, Will Rogers Health Center (Nowata), and Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center (Stilwell).
• Behavioral Health Services Outpatient mental health services and substance abuse treatment including Adult Behavioral Health, HERO Project (children's behavioral health), adult and pediatric psychiatry, Medication Assisted Treatment for opioid use disorder, Family Care Management, Narcan training, Recovery and Support Services, Prevention Services, and Research & Evaluation.
• Rehabilitation Services Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services addressing developmental delay, gait patterns, fall prevention, vestibular rehabilitation, post-surgical rehabilitation, and pain relief, available at Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center and select health centers.
• Neurology Services Neurological and stroke care in partnership with Regional Brain Institute providing general neurology (headaches, seizures, sleep medicine, MS, movement disorders, dementia), acute and critical stroke care, inpatient stroke services, telemedicine consultations, and post-stroke care coordination.
• Same Day Clinic Short-notice medical care access for non-emergent conditions including flu/COVID/strep testing, skin problems, strains/sprains, minor lacerations, UTI, earaches, sore throat, and upper respiratory infections. Located at the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center, Monday-Friday 7:30am-6pm.
• Home Health Services Tribally incorporated not-for-profit home health and hospice care agency, Medicare and Medicaid certified to provide state-licensed home health and hospice care. Established in 1981.
• Jack Brown Center 36-bed co-educational residential chemical dependency facility in Tahlequah for Native American adolescents ages 13-18, offering a minimum 14-week program of behavior modification, individual, family, and group counseling, including dual diagnosis treatment. No-cost services for citizens of federally recognized tribes.
• Dental Services Comprehensive dental care available at multiple health centers across the CNHS network, including preventive, restorative, and specialty dental services for eligible Native American patients.
• HIV & Hepatitis C Services HIV and Hepatitis C prevention and treatment including HIV Testing (at-home or in-person), PrEP Prescription, HIV Prevention Education, Hepatitis C screening, and care coordination as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative.
• Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) Contract health services program providing medical and dental care at non-tribal facilities to eligible Native Americans residing within the Cherokee Nation 14-county reservation; not an entitlement program requiring notification within 72 hours for emergency care, meeting medical priority, and use of alternate resources. PRC is payer of last resort.
• Public Health Programs Public health and prevention programs including Male Seminary Recreation Center, WINGS, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), Cancer Programs, Summer EBT, community partnerships, and walking groups promoting and protecting the health of Cherokee Nation citizens.
• Cherokee Nation Family Medicine Residency Program Three-year ACGME-accredited (ACGME ID 1203900670) family medicine residency program with Osteopathic Recognition, sponsored by the Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO), providing progressive learning experiences for rural-based primary care physicians with an 8-8-8 resident complement.
• Patient Benefit Coordinators Eligibility screenings, patient financial requirements assessment, and insurance benefits counseling identifying patients eligible for alternate resources including Medicare, Medicaid, Department of Veterans Affairs, SoonerCare, Third Party Liability, Advantage Waiver Program, and Marketplace (ACA) plans.
• Patient Experience Team Dedicated team ensuring patient-centered access for Cherokee citizens including at-large citizens living outside the reservation, providing guidance on tribal health care resources and navigation assistance.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020OMECO serves as the sponsoring institution for the Cherokee Nation Family Medicine Residency Program. Dedicated to educating and training osteopathic residents with emphasis on rural and underserved areas of Oklahoma. Supports mission of partnering with individuals, families, and communities to improve health and quality of life.
• Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU-COM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020In 2020, OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation became the first tribally affiliated medical school in the United States. Medical students complete first two years in Tahlequah and can complete clinical rotations at Cherokee Nation facilities. Faculty and residents collaborate on research opportunities.
• Indian Health Service (IHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Federal agency providing healthcare funding and joint venture partnership. Cherokee Nation assumed operations of W.W. Hastings Hospital October 1, 2008 through joint venture. IHS provides Purchased and Referred Care funding based on service population and delivery area. CNHS is the largest IHS joint venture health facility operator in the US.
• Regional Brain Institute (RBI)coreTechnology or IntegrationCNHS partners with Regional Brain Institute to provide neurological and stroke care. RBI specialists offer inpatient and outpatient services at W.W. Hastings Hospital and Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center. RBI provides Stroke Program Service Line Management, Medical Directorship (Dr. Anna Wanahita for Stroke, Dr. Suraj Suku for ICU/Critical Care), and telemedicine consultations.
• SoonerCare (Oklahoma Medicaid)minorOthersOklahoma Medicaid program for children and families. CNHS bills SoonerCare for services, which brings in additional funding for medical equipment and services. Patient Benefit Coordinators assist patients with SoonerCare enrollment.
• Northeastern State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerW.W. Hastings Hospital originally opened 1936 on land now annexed into Northeastern State University campus. NSU is a four-year public university in Tahlequah with over 80 degree programs. Campus proximity supports medical education and training.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Phoenix Indian Medical Center: Large IHS-operated hospital serving AI/AN patients in the Phoenix area; comparable in service mix (inpatient, outpatient, specialty) but federally operated rather than tribally operated, and geographically focused on the Southwest.

Broad incumbents

• Indian Health Service (IHS): Federal agency within HHS that funds and operates health services for AI/AN populations; CNHS's joint-venture and IHS-compacted operating model sits inside the broader IHS system, making it the broadest incumbent peer.

Direct peers

• Oklahoma City Indian Clinic: Urban Indian health organization providing comprehensive outpatient medical, dental, and behavioral health services to AI/AN patients in central Oklahoma under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act — comparable mission and patient population to CNHS.
• Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority: Tribally operated health system serving Choctaw Nation citizens in southeastern Oklahoma; runs a hospital, clinics, and specialty services on a self-governance compact with IHS — the closest operational and funding-model peer to CNHS.
• Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health: Tribally operated health services for Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizens in eastern Oklahoma; runs hospitals, clinics, and behavioral health programs on an IHS-compacted model analogous to CNHS.
• Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA): Indian-controlled urban and tribal health organization serving AI/AN people in the Pacific Northwest with integrated medical, behavioral, and recovery services — comparable tribal governance and patient population to CNHS.
• Southcentral Foundation: Alaska Native-owned health system serving Anchorage-area Alaska Native and American Indian people; runs the Alaska Native Medical Center under a Title V compact and is widely viewed as a benchmark tribal health system — comparable ownership, governance, and integrated-care model.
• Chickasaw Nation Department of Health: Operates the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center and a network of clinics for Chickasaw citizens in south-central Oklahoma under a tribal self-governance compact — directly comparable in scale, IHS funding model, and tribal-government ownership.
• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium: Tribal consortium providing statewide Alaska Native health services including the Alaska Native Medical Center; operates under Title V compacts with IHS and is a structural analog to large tribal health authorities like CNHS.
• Cherokee Elder Care (PACE program): Tribally operated Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) affiliated with Cherokee Nation; narrower scope than CNHS but directly comparable as a tribally-operated health program under Cherokee Nation governance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CherokeeNation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CherokeeTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/cherokeenationhealth
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecherokeenation
• TikToktiktok.com/@thecherokeenation

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cherokee Nation Health Services