BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a historic move toward culturally inclusive healthcare, Medicaid will now fund traditional healing treatments for Native Americans in four states: California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon. This new pilot program will allow Medicaid to cover Indigenous cultural therapies like sweat lodges, music therapy , and ceremonial rituals, a significant step toward bridging conventional and traditional approaches to health and healing. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the pilot program, which represents a significant victory for Native communities.
Roselyn Tso, director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), praised the move, stating, “These practices have sustained our people’s health for generations and continue to serve as a vital link between culture, science, and wellness.” The program will last two years and apply to services provided at IHS facilities, tribal clinics, and urban Indian health organizations. Supporting recovery via tradition Many Native Americans rely on traditional healing practices to manage substance use disorders.
These treatments not only aid in physical recovery but also address underlying issues of trauma and spiritual separation. Emery Tahy, a 43-year-old Navajo Nation member, is fully aware of this. Tahy’s journey from addiction and depression to recovery included reconnecting with his roots, which was made possible by traditional healing methods at Friendship House , a Native-led tr.