Traditional Healing Medicaid Reimbursement Now Reaches Six States

Traditional healing Medicaid reimbursement now reaches Maine and Utah, which join four other states and give states with pending requests six approved models to study.

CMS Approved Two New Section 1115 Waivers

CMS approved Utah’s Section 1115 demonstration on September 24, 2026, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2031. Maine’s approval document is dated September 25, 2026. Utah applied in November 2024 and Maine applied in July 2025, according to the National Indian Health Board report. Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Oregon received approvals in October 2024. That brings the total to six states. NIHB credits the CMS Tribal Technical Advisory Group for years of work behind the approvals.

How Traditional Healing Medicaid Reimbursement Differs by State

The two waivers differ in scope. Utah allows reimbursement for traditional health care practices delivered through IHS facilities, Tribal health systems, or urban Indian organization facilities, while Maine’s waiver runs through IHS or Tribal facilities. The National Council of Urban Indian Health notes that Utah’s application expressly names urban Indian organizations as eligible, which matters for Native people receiving care in Salt Lake City. Each approval reflects one state’s application.

What Tribal Health Leaders Should Watch Next

Minnesota’s Mino Bimaadiziwin-Wičhózani proposal is still in development, according to NIHB. Every waiver is also temporary. Utah’s runs through September 30, 2031, and Ellsworth noted in our coverage of Arizona SB 1776 that waivers require renewal and can be rescinded, which is why that bill would write traditional healing into state Medicaid law. Tribal leaders should track renewal dates, confirm which facilities qualify, and plan the workforce now.

Ellsworth, a Native owned small business and ISBEE-certified medical staffing company, remains cautiously optimistic that Indigenous ways of knowing can sit alongside Western healthcare delivery.

Reimbursement needs people to deliver care, and we support IHS facilities and Tribal health programs with culturally competent clinicians who understand the communities they serve. Contact Ellsworth today to plan your staffing for the changes ahead!