December 8, 2025

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We've updated this announcement to reflect the proper day for when the public comment period ends, which is Saturday, December 20. 

Don't miss this week's public hearing on WA’s Traditional Health Care Practices waiver

On Tuesday, December 9, the Health Care Authority (HCA) will host a fourth public hearing on Washington state's Traditional Health Care Practices draft application waiver. This is a five-year Section 1115 waiver available through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The public hearing is part of a formal public comment period that began Wednesday, November 5 and ends Saturday, December 20, 2025.

Public hearing information

During the hearing, attendees can ask questions, provide input, and attend in person, join virtually, or call in.

Tuesday, December 9, 2025
10:30 a.m.–noon

Health Care Authority
Fir Conference Room, 2^nd floor
626 8^th Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Join on Zoom

Meeting ID: 846 7243 0072

Call in:
1-253-215-8782 (Tacoma)
1-253-205-0468 (U.S.)

See more information on how to join

About the waiver

If approved, the Traditional Health Care Practices waiver will allow certain types of facilities in the state to provide traditional health care services as “qualifying facilities,” including:

• Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities
• Tribal facilities
• Urban Indian Health Organizations (UIHOs), depending on state funding from the Legislature

When a qualifying facility provides traditional health care services to an eligible Apple Health (Medicaid) or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollee, Medicaid will reimburse (pay) that facility for the service.

How to provide input

1. Attend the December 9 public hearing (see information above)
2. Email us
3. Mail us or drop off at:
   Health Care Authority, Office of Tribal Affairs
   Regarding: Traditional Health Care Practices waiver public comment
   Attention: Lena Nachand
   P.O. Box 45502
   Olympia, WA 98504-5502

The deadline to provide public comment is Saturday, December 20 at 5 p.m. (Pacific). 

Who can share input

Public comment is open to anyone who would like to share input, especially Tribal Nations, Indian health care providers, UIHOs, Tribal health organizations, and Native-serving organizations. We also encourage health care and social service providers, hospitals and health systems, community-based organizations, and anyone else interested in sharing their input.

Input we receive will help us learn more about people’s thoughts on reimbursing traditional health care services. It will also help inform our state’s waiver application.

More information

• Visit our Traditional Health Care Practices waiver page
• Sign up to receive our emails
• Read the:
  • Draft application
  • Executive summary
• Learn about the additional opportunities for Tribes to share input
• See some of the traditional health care practices a qualifying facility may use