Four States Approved To Allow Medicaid Coverage For Traditional Health Care Practices

On October 16, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Medicaid 1115 demonstration amendments submitted by four states (Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Oregon) to cover traditional health care practices. For these waiver amendments, the traditional health services would be provided by Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, Tribal facilities, and urban Indian organizations (UIO). American Indian and Alaska Native traditional health care practices have historically been paid for and delivered by or through IHS, Tribal, or urban Indian organization facilities, but have not until now been covered or paid for by Medicaid or CHIP.

Traditional healing practices . . .