NDDoH expanding Medicaid access for behavioral health services

(Bismarck, ND) -- The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) has received approval by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services to allow increased access to in-home and community-based behavioral services for children and adults. 

The approval would allow North Dakota Medicaid to pay for additional in-home and community-based services by lowering the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) eligibility score from 50 to 25, which will allow more individuals to qualify for services. The WHODAS is an instrument used to measure an individual’s function and disability in activities of daily living. A full list of amendment changes can be found here. 

“We continue to see significant need for behavioral health services and supports across the state,” said Pamela Sagness, Behavioral Health Division director. “The enhancements will make it easier for more North Dakotans to qualify for the in-home and community-based services to better support their behavioral health needs.”

The changes were approved in February of 2021 and all changes will begin January 1, 2022. 

For a list of enrolled providers, you can click here.