On the Ground Report: Federal Impacts in North Dakota

By: Prairie Action North Dakota Institute

May 27, 2025

Federal Cuts Hurt Kids

23% of children in North Dakota are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. 1 in 4 ND kids.

42% of kids with special health care needs rely on Medicaid in North Dakota. 2 in 5 ND kids with special needs.

Less Care for Pregnant Women & Newborns

Medicaid covers 1 in 4 births in North Dakota.

Federal Cuts could block access to prenatal and newborn care such as ob-gyn visits, ultrasounds, screenings for complications, NICU care, hospital delivery costs, newborn screenings, etc.

Larger Cuts for Communities of Color

Nearly 1 in 2 North Dakotans enrolled in Medicaid are BIPOC, that means 46% of North Dakotans on Medicaid are people of color.

These cuts Could dramatically increase health disparities.

Less Care for Disability Services

Medicaid covers more than 26,000 people with a disability in North Dakota.

Over 1 in 30 North Dakotans with a disability rely on Medicaid services, such as health care visits, long-term supports, developmental and behavioral care, community based services, technological care (wheelchairs, etc.) and more.

Blocked Mental Health & Addiction Treatment

Over 10,000 North Dakotans have relied on Medicaid for substance use treatment in recent years.

Services for this type of care include therapy and counseling, crisis intervention, psychiatric services, case management, and more.

Cuts could create dangerous barriers to care.

Medicaid Keeps ND Seniors in Care

53% of North Dakota nursing home residents rely on Medicaid.

The Bottom Line?

Medicaid cuts will mean lost coverage for North Dakotans. No one should lose care to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.

There's no acceptable level of coverage loss—period.

Source:

Cuts to Medicaid Put North Dakotans' Health and Coverage At-Risk