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- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Health Care
Tribal Diagnostics LLC, a Native American-owned clinical laboratory, opened a new 25,000-square-foot facility in Oklahoma City on April 14, significantly expanding its capacity to serve tribal health systems and underserved communities.
The Tulsa-based company, which moved from a 5,000-square-foot space, currently partners with 28 tribal health systems and supports 697 healthcare clinics across the region, according to Chickasaw Nation citizen and CEO Cory Littlepage.
"The new facility not only expands our diagnostic capabilities but also increases our staff capacity, allowing us to better serve the healthcare needs of our community," Littlepage said in a statement during the ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.
The new facility represents a significant expansion for Tribal Diagnostics, which received a $3.2 million investment from Raven Indigenous Capital Partners in July 2023. The lab, which began operations in 2015, was established to address health disparities in Native American communities, where rates of heart disease, diabetes, and substance abuse exceed national averages.
U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a Chickasaw Nation citizen who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, attended the event and emphasized the importance of laboratory services for Native communities.
"Clinical lab tests are critical for early detection, diagnoses, monitoring, and treatment plans. Access to this lab testing is particularly necessary in tribal communities, as they have a life expectancy of 5.5 years less than the national average," Cole said in a statement.
Tribal Diagnostics offers more than 1,000 laboratory tests and maintains partnerships with major insurance providers including United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, and 23 Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, as well as various Medicaid and Medicare plans.
Bailey Walker, the company's director of tribal relations and a Chickasaw Nation citizen, highlighted the lab's partnerships with the Indian Health Service and rural and tribal clinics nationwide during the event.
While Native American facilities represent a portion of its client base, the company serves healthcare providers across multiple states, primarily in rural and underserved areas. Littlepage, who previously worked as a Pfizer executive and in the private equity industry, founded the company in 2015 to address health disparities affecting Native American communities.
During the event, Littlepage acknowledged Cole's commitment to tribal sovereignty and thanked the company's board of directors, staff, design and construction teams, insurance partners, and tribal representatives.
"This sign represents more than just a facility, it reflects our mission and proves that with the right people, the right partners and the right purpose, you can build something special that expands access, delivers excellence and does it without driving up the cost of healthcare," Littlepage said.
