Purchased referred care(prc)
Purchased Referred Care Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Closed Federal /Tribal Holidays
Located at Laguna Community Health Center, 6 Basswood Paraje, NM
Patient Responsibility
For Emergency Services
Eligible patients with a medical emergency may seek immediate care and must notify PRC Staff within 72 hours of the beginning of treatment or admission to a health care facility. Elderly (65+) and/or disabled patients have 30 days to notify Laguna Community Health Center PRC of emergency medical care received from a Non-I.H.S medical provider or at non-I.H.S medial facilities.
Non-Emergency Referral Services (Outpatient specialty services)
For Clinically-indicted, non-emergency conditions that are not available as direct care services at the Laguna Community Health Center or an I.H.S clinic/Hospital, a referral is initiated by the clinical provider following a patient evaluation. A determination of medial necessity based on the medical priorities is one of five PRC Eligibility requirements which must be met before approval for PRC payment for the referred service(s).
What is Purchased Referred Care:
Purchased Referred Care (PRC), formerly called Contract Health Services (CHS) which was signed into law on September 30, 1976 (PL94-437) and permanently authorized in (Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) on March 23, 2010, was a service offered by Indian Health Services (IHS) and is now provided through Laguna Community Health Center (LCHC) for patients meeting the five eligibility requirements mandated by regulation. Each person needing and applying for PRC Assistance must have a chart at the Laguna Community Health Center to begin the eligibility process.
PRC funding is considered the “payor of last resort” meaning that it requires all other payment options, including private insurance (Employer Provided Insurance), publicly funded health insurance (Medicaid) or age eligible insurance (Medicare) coverage to be billed first. PRC is NOT health insurance coverage and not guaranteed to cover all your medical costs. PRC is financial assistance for a patient to receive health care with outside providers or specialist. The Federal government has an obligation to provide healthcare to the native populations across North America based on treaty responsibilities; however, PRC is only funded annually through congressional appropriations.
For more information please contact the PRC program staff at 505.431.0711:
Francine Vallo Aleta Natseway (A-Z) Kimberly Washburn (A-J)
Department Manager Case Manager Case Manager
D: 505.431.0710 Billing/Claims/PO's Referral/Intake/Appointments
D: 505.431.0748 Ext.: 168 D: 505.431.0737 Ext.: 142
Patrice Juanico (K-S) Jennifer Ray (T-Z)
Case Manager Case Manager
Referral/Intake/Appointments Referral/Intake/Appointments/IHS & Tribal Referrals
D: 505.431.0730 Ext.: 164 D: 505.808.4519 Ext.: 181
Established December 2015 - Pueblo of Laguna Council Resolution 74-15
Laguna Community Health Center located at 6 Basswood Road - Mailing Address: PO Box 1407 - Laguna, NM 87026 Phone: 505.431.0711