News Stay up-to-date with us.

Brigid’s Path to Begin Accepting Medicaid Starting Jan. 18 , 2026

Brigid’s Path to Begin Accepting Medicaid Starting Jan. 18 , 2026

KETTERING, OH (January 12, 2026) – Brigid’s Path, Ohio’s only newborn recovery center, will begin receiving Medicaid reimbursement for babies treated for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), beginning January 18, 2026.

happy laughing mom and baby

Mom, Liz, and baby Kylah graduated from Brigid’s Path last spring and attended our family Christmas party in December, along with more than 50 alumni families.

Brigid’s Path was approved in August 2025 by the state of Ohio to bill for Medicaid, allowing negotiations to begin with managed care plans, but the journey began in 2014 when Brigid’s Path founder and president, Jill Kingston, first met with lawmakers to discuss the need for sustainable funding.

“It has taken 11 and a half years, plenty of ups and downs, and a lot of perseverance, but we finally have a path forward,” says Kingston. “This new source of funding will ensure we will always be here for the babies and moms we serve.”

This exciting opportunity means Brigid’s Path will be able to keep its doors open long-term for families like Liz and her infant daughter, Kylah, who graduated from the program in April 2025. When she learned she was pregnant, Liz committed to her recovery so she and her baby could have the best possible future together. While Kylah weaned off substances with the care of the medical team at Brigid’s Path – benefiting from specialized therapeutic techniques proven to support babies with NAS – family advocates helped Liz rebuild her life: applying for housing, finding a job, and getting custody of her baby.

“I’m so grateful to say I got the chance to become a part of the family of Brigid’s Path, because without them I wouldn’t be where I am today,” says Liz.

Until now, Brigid’s Path has relied on philanthropic funding sources, including federal, state, and private grants, and personal donations, for 100% of its revenue. “Community support has carried us to this point, but receiving reimbursement will finally create a sustainable, long-term model for Brigid’s Path,” says Kingston.

While the cost of caring for a single baby like Kylah at Brigid’s Path is about $1,300 per day, Medicaid will reimburse only $559.62 per day for up to 30 days – meaning philanthropy will continue to play a large role for the organization that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These costs are still significantly less than those of a hospital NICU, which can charge as much as $7,000 per baby, per day. Brigid’s Path offers an extremely cost-effective alternative, with improved outcomes for babies with NAS and their families who are working to recover from substance use and move forward as a family.

###

 

About Brigid’s Path 

Brigid’s Path was founded in 2014 to care for babies and mothers in crisis with grace, love and hope. Our primary work is to care for infants born exposed to an addictive substance like prescription medication, opioids or other drugs, while also working with community partners to provide low-cost, holistic services to our families. We embrace and empower each baby’s family to help them thrive.