Medicaid Coverage for Traditional Healthcare Approves in Tribal Communities

In the Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Oregon tribes enhance access and improve health outcomes by HHS approving coverage of traditional healthcare practices under Medicaid.

The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services has made an important announcement on improving healthcare access for the tribal population. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS has approved section 1115 demonstration amendments that which allow the Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal and urban Indian organization (UIO) facilities, and systems to administer Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for conventional health services.

CMS reports findings from studies that show the effectiveness of integrating traditional health care practices as part of the treatment plan for various conditions, including mental health and substance abuse disorders. These practices are thought by many tribes to be integral to caring for both physical and mental illnesses.

Such measures will be of great relief in availing culturally aligned healthcare services, therefore improving the health of the tribal population in the states of Arizona, California New Mexico, and Oregon.

“Innovative state demonstrations that improve access to traditional health care practices can be extremely beneficial in decreasing health burden among the tribal population,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.

MHS Director Roselyn Tso expressed the importance of the use of traditional medicine when she said, “There have emerged American Indian and Alaska Native traditional healing practices, which our forebears bequeathed to us as a vibrant and invaluable treasure. The healing has maintained the wellbeing of our peoples over centuries and does serve still a key role in the health culture, the health sciences and the wellbeing of most of our communities.”

This change presents an opportunity to change the perception surrounding traditional medicine practices and their incorporation into healthcare systems.