The purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to fund Tribes, Tribal and urban Indian organizations, and intertribal consortia to provide epidemiological support for the AI/AN population served by Indian Health Service (IHS).

Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) activities should include,

credit:

but are not limited to, enhancement of surveillance for disease conditions; research, prevention and control of disease, injury, or disability; assessment of the effectiveness of AI/AN public health programs; epidemiologic analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance data; investigation of disease outbreaks; development and implementation of epidemiologic studies; development and implementation of disease control and prevention programs; and coordination of activities of other public health authorities in the region.

It is the intent of IHS to fund several TECs that will serve Tribes and urban Indian communities in all 12 IHS Administrative Areas.Each TEC selected for funding will act under a cooperative agreement with the IHS.

During funded activities, the TECs may receive Protected Health Information (PHI) for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability, including, but not limited to, reporting of disease, injury, vital events, such as birth or death, and the conduct of public health surveillance, public health investigation, and public health interventions for the Tribal and urban Indian communities that they serve.

TECs acting under a cooperative agreement with IHS are public health authorities for which the disclosure of PHI by covered entities is authorized by the Privacy Rule.

45 CFR 16 4. 512(b).