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How to Become a Patient

Become a Patient

Reno Sparks Tribal Health Center provides comprehensive healthcare services to eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives. New patients must complete an application process (patient registration) and provide required documents to establish their eligibility.

Required documents for new patient registration include

Proof of enrollment or descendancy from a Federally Recognized Tribe

Birth Certificate for patients under 18 years old

Photo Identification (if patient is a minor, the parent/guardian’s ID)

Insurance card(s): Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance etc.

Proof of Residency (Purchased Referred Care eligible patients only)

Reno Sparks Tribal Health Center (RSTHC) patients are categorized into two levels of eligibility: Purchased and Referred Care (PRC) or Direct Care Only (DCO).

The eligibility coordinators at RSTHC will review your registration packet and determine whether you are eligible for Direct Care Only (eligible to receive services at RSTHC) or for Purchased and Referred Care (eligible to receive services at RSTHC and or payment for referrals to an outside provider).

It is very important that your eligibility information remain current and you will be asked to verify your information at every visit. Please notify RSTHC if your information changes (address, phone number, insurance coverage, etc.)

Indian Health Services requires Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center to make sure your information is updated yearly. RSTHC can end your PRC eligibility if information isn’t current. IHS is a primary source of funding for RSTHC, making up approximately half of the operating budget each year. To address shortfalls in congressional funding, RSTHC and other tribal, urban, and IHS programs must rely on resources, such as private insurers, Medicare and Medicaid, to meet the level of need.

The RSTHC Benefits Coordinators can be reached at 775-329-5162.

Direct Care Only (DCO) Requirements:

  • Any enrolled tribal member or descendent of an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe
  • Be registered for services at RSTHC
  • Provide required documents
  • Must enroll for alternative resource (insurance) if applicable, such as: Medicaid and/or tribal sponsorship plans as available
  • Eligible to receive services at RSTHC ONLY

Purchased & Referred Care (PRC) Requirements:

  • Be registered for services at RSTHC
  • Provide required documents
  • Enrolled member or descendant of a Nevada Tribe (Washoe, Paiute or Shoshone) residing in the following RSTHC PRC Delivery Area:
    • Crystal Bay, Hungry Valley, Incline Village, Lemmon Valley, Reno, Spanish Springs, Sparks, Stead Air Force Base, Sun Valley
  • Enrolled member or descendant of a federally recognized tribe and maintains a close economic or social tie with the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony (married to a Nevada Tribal Member or employed by the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony)
  • • Enrolled member or descendant of a federally recognized tribe residing on a reservation located within the PRCDA (Reno-Sparks Indian Colony or Hungry Valley reservation)
  • • Student and/or Transient (PRC eligible and a full-time student outside RSTHC’s PRCDA or PRC eligible and working outside PRCDA)
  • • Other persons outside PRCDA (PRC eligible but moves away from PRCDA, patient is covered for 180 days from departure)
  • • Foster Children (PRC eligible child placed in foster care outside of RSTHC’s PRCDA)
  • • Non-Indian pregnant woman with an eligible AI/AN child (limitations apply, please contact our Referral Department for more information)
  • • Must enroll for an alternative resource (insurance) if applicable, such as: Medicaid and/or tribal sponsorship plans as available
  • • Eligible to receive services outside of RSTHC with APPROVED referral from RSTHC Provider