North Dakota Kidney Dialysis and Women's Way: Medicare-Adjacent Help

North Dakota Has No General Pharmacy Assistance Program

Unlike some states that run a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (SPAP) covering prescription costs for all low-income seniors, North Dakota does not. Eligible beneficiaries can use the federal Extra Help program (Part D Low-Income Subsidy) for broad Part D drug-cost assistance.

If your parent qualifies for any Medicare Savings Program tier — QMB, SLMB, or QI — they are automatically deemed eligible for Extra Help, which caps copays for covered Part D drugs at $4.90 for generics and $12.15 for brand-name drugs at participating pharmacies in 2026. For seniors who don't qualify for MSP, standalone Extra Help through Social Security has a 2026 single-person income limit of $2,015/month and a resource limit of $18,090.

For kidney care, ND HHS lists certified dialysis facilities and renal transplant centers. Women's Way provides a separate screening program for eligible women.

North Dakota Kidney Dialysis Services

ND HHS publishes a directory of Medicare- and Medicaid-certified dialysis facilities and renal transplant centers in North Dakota.

For costs that Medicare or a drug plan does not cover, ask the dialysis center's social worker or ND HHS about available coverage and assistance for dialysis supplies, transportation, or kidney-related medications.

The Medicare Savings Program application is separate from dialysis care. Contact the ND HHS Customer Support Center or your parent's dialysis center social worker for help understanding available coverage.

For Medicare-eligible patients with ESRD, Medicare remains the primary coverage for covered services. QMB pays Medicare cost-sharing for covered services under program rules, and Extra Help lowers costs for covered Part D drugs at participating pharmacies.

Women's Way

Women's Way is North Dakota's implementation of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). It provides breast and cervical cancer screenings — mammograms, clinical breast exams, Pap tests, and diagnostic follow-up — for eligible women ages 40 through 64. Women ages 21 through 39 may qualify if they have breast symptoms, are at high risk for breast cancer, are due for a Pap test, or need breast or cervical diagnostic procedures.

The program serves uninsured and underinsured women who meet its income and insurance criteria. A woman diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through the program may apply separately for Medicaid treatment coverage under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act; Women's Way screening does not automatically enroll her in treatment coverage.

Income eligibility is generally at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Contact a local public health unit or participating provider for eligibility screening. The online eligibility form begins screening; it is not an enrollment application.

How These Programs Layer With MSP

Women's Way does not replace Medicare Savings Programs; it addresses breast and cervical cancer screening and follow-up for eligible women. MSP covers Medicare cost-sharing for services covered by Medicare.

For a senior with kidney disease, Medicare pays for covered services, QMB covers Medicare cost-sharing under program rules, and Extra Help reduces costs for covered Part D drugs at participating pharmacies. Ask the dialysis center's social worker about costs that remain.

The North Dakota Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide focuses on the MSP and Extra Help layer — the application process, income worksheets, and benefits coordination — so you can secure the foundational cost-help before pursuing other health and screening support through its separate channels.

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