Health Access
Apr 9, 2026

Medicaid cuts delay doula services on Northern Cheyenne Reservation

Budget shortfall pauses planned Medicaid coverage for doulas, delaying paid support services for Northern Cheyenne families


April 9, 2026

Montana health officials have postponed adding doula services to the state’s Medicaid program, citing a budget shortfall, according to KFF Health News. The decision halts a plan approved last year that would have reimbursed doulas up to $1,600 per pregnancy. 

The delay affects providers like Misty Pipe, a Northern Cheyenne doula who offers unpaid support in a community about 100 miles from the nearest hospital that delivers babies, according to KFF Health News. Officials project a $146.3 million Medicaid funding shortfall and said additional service reductions may follow as the state evaluates spending.

  1. 1.Katheryn Houghton. KFF Health News, .

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