Comment Deadline Extended: Traditional Healing Medicaid Reimbursement Framework

What Is Happening:

CMS has extended its comment deadline on the framework for reviewing Section 1115 waivers including traditional healing components. The deadline to submit comments on the framework is now close of business Friday, May 3, 2024. Comments can be submitted to Tribalaffairs@cms.hhs.gov.

CMS seeks input on the scope of coverage of Traditional Health Care Practices that could be provided at IHS and Tribal facilities, recommendations on provider qualifications, and evaluation criteria. Save the date information and background information is available here. Please reach out to Alanna Cronk, Government Relations Coordinator, at acronk@nihb.org for more information on the framework.

Comments Due: Close of business Friday, May 3, 2024

Comment Submission: Tribalaffairs@cms.hhs.gov

Why It Matters:

This framework is intended to guide the approval of 1115(a) demonstration waivers for Medicaid reimbursement of traditional healing health care services. Medicaid representatives have shared that this framework must be finalized before they will approve any 1115(a) demonstration waiver applications with American Indian/Alaska Native traditional healing services. This newly proposed framework impacts the approval process for Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Oregon’s waivers with traditional healing which are all pending approval. This proposed framework will also impact Tribes in other states that may be currently working on an 1115(a) demonstration waiver or Tribes that are interested in submitting such a waiver in the future. This framework will set a path for how Tribes proceed with reimbursement for traditional healing through Medicaid, making Tribal participation and input on this consultation crucial.

National Indian Health Board | www.nihb.org | 202-507-4070

Visit the NIHB COVID-19 Tribal Resource Center at:

www.nihb.org/covid-19

For media inquiries, contact Ned Johnson at njohnson@nihb.org.

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