States, providers awaiting specifics on Medicaid changes from feds

BISMARCK — North Dakota health officials, health care providers and the public are waiting for details on how the state will implement changes to its Medicaid programs, but federal guidance may not be handed out until 2026.

Without that guidance, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services and health care providers won’t be able to calculate potential administrative costs forced by the changes, or have a clearer picture on how to implement new processes, said Sarah Aker, executive director of medical services for the state Department of Health and Human Services.

The new requirements will affect about 23,000 of the more than 108,000 Medicaid recipients in the state who are part of the Medicaid expansion program.

Aker said the department knows communicating the changes in th