Coverage will help frontline, essential workers
New Mexico Together for Healthcare community leaders and health care providers from around the state spoke Monday to the House Health and Human Services Committee in support of HB 13, a bill to expand emergency Medicaid coverage to include all COVID-19 testing and treatment. The bill passed the committee 8-1.
“Just this morning I saw two patients who have COVID but didn’t want to go to the hospital because of their immigration status and the cost,” sad Lorraine Cordova, a family nurse practitioner with Casa de Salud. “I’ve had patients die because they waited too long to seek care.”
EMSA, the existing emergency Medicaid program, provides coverage for emergency medical care for people who would not regularly qualify for Medicaid due to their immigration status. However, the New Mexico Human Services Department’s current EMSA rules do not cover COVID treatment outside of the emergency room or ICU. Without health coverage, the costs of even out-patient COVID care can be prohibitive for many hard-working immigrants.
HB 13, sponsored by Rep. Brittney Barreras, is needed to provide this emergency Medicaid coverage for COVID testing and treatment to the roughly 43,000 immigrants, many of whom are frontline and essential workers.
“We all deserve equal health care,” said Christina James, a Forward Together Action community leader in McKinley County who has recovered from COVID and has lost family members in the pandemic.
The longevity of the pandemic and the need for ongoing care was cited by one of the bill’s expert witnesses as a reason for passing HB 13.
“COVID is going to be with us for a while and we need to make sure our state’s programs support everyone,” said Nicolas Cordova, an attorney with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.
HB 13 further simplifies the EMSA application process and allows patients to qualify for EMSA before an emergency arises, which provides additional safeguards for frontline workers who are at greater risk.
“Immigrants in New Mexico work in grocery stores, child care centers and restaurants,” said Adriann Barboa, Forward Together Action’s New Mexico Policy Director. “Immigrants are at the heart of our communities and are an essential part of our economy. We must ensure that immigrants have the coverage they need to get tested for and treated for COVID 19. This is a public health issue that must be addressed.”
HB 13 now goes to the House State Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee for consideration.
