Advocacy Alert: California expands access to traditional healing for substance use treatment

November 14, 2024

via Governor Gavin Newsome's website

Governor Gavin Newsom announced on October 16, 2024, that California is expanding access to culturally-based substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services.

After years of working toward this milestone, today marks the first time Medi-Cal will cover traditional health care practices in use since time immemorial. These are deeply rooted in cultural practices and have been shown to improve health outcomes, particularly for individuals with SUDs.

Native Americans continue to be disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic, with higher overdose death rates than other racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) approval for California, alongside Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon, allows two new categories of interventions to be covered by Medi-Cal, as developed by the state in partnership with tribal partners.

This marks a significant milestone in the state's ongoing efforts to recognize the valuable contributions of traditional healing practices within the health care system. Traditional healing services have been trusted and tested methods of care for Native Americans for generations. They are deeply rooted in cultural practices and have been shown to improve health outcomes, particularly for individuals with SUDs.

Studies have demonstrated that these culturally centered approaches can enhance engagement and recovery outcomes, making them an essential component of holistic care for Native communities. Additionally, the state recognizes that tribal communities understand themselves best – and that each tribe has different needs, traditions, and histories – so each participating IHCP will create its own process to identify and credential its own traditional healers and natural helpers.

Starting January 1, 2025, IHCPs can request Medi-Cal reimbursement for Traditional Healer and Natural Helper Services provided to residents of qualifying counties. In the coming months, the state will consult with tribes and tribal partners to develop guidance.

Read the full announcement here.

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