Healthcare providers, incoming House Leader Szczepanski, and advocates to discuss ‘Medicaid Forward’ with Legislative Health and Human Services Committee
New state report highlights groundbreaking opportunity for affordable, accessible healthcare
Santa Fe, NM – Incoming House Leader Reena Szczepanski and representatives from the New Mexico Together for Healthcare coalition will present key findings from the newly released Health Care Authority (HCA) report on Medicaid Forward to the Legislative Health and Human Services (LHHS) Committee this Friday, November 22, 2024, from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. The presentation will outline how Medicaid Forward, an upgrade to New Mexico’s Medicaid program, will eliminate income eligibility limits and cap healthcare spending at just 5% of income–providing lower costs, enhanced access, and long-term savings for New Mexico’s families all while resulting in a net gain for the state.
Details
What: Presentation to the LHHS Committee
Who:
Incoming House Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski, HB 400 (2023) sponsor and Medicaid Forward champion
New Mexico Together for Healthcare, including:
- Arika Sanchez, Healthcare Director, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty
- Adriann Barboa, Field Director, Strong Families New Mexico
- Dr. Anjali Taneja, MPH FASAM, Executive Director, Casa de Salud
- Dr. Caryn McHarney-Brown, family practitioner for 34 years
Date: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Room 307, New Mexico State Capitol, Santa Fe, NM or livestream at https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00293/harmony
Media inquiries
Following the presentation, members of the media are invited to engage with presenters to delve deeper into the findings and ask questions about the potential impacts of Medicaid Forward on New Mexico’s communities and healthcare system. Media representatives are encouraged to RSVP in advance by contacting Paloma Mexika, Communications Director at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, at paloma@nmpovertylaw.org or (505) 305-2559 to coordinate interviews.
Public comment
The public is encouraged to participate in the public comment period at 12:30 PM, where individuals can share their views on the proposed Medicaid Forward model and its potential to address critical healthcare access issues in the state.
Background and context on Medicaid Forward in New Mexico
The push for healthcare reform in New Mexico gained momentum between 2021 and 2022, driven by concerns about the rising uninsured rate and frustration with the fragmented and costly healthcare system. Community groups and healthcare providers advocated to improve healthcare access and equity, leading to the Medicaid Forward proposal. In 2023, the legislature passed HB 400, championed by Rep. Szczepanski, which launched efforts to eliminate Medicaid income limits and introduce a public buy-in option. The state was tasked with studying the feasibility and impact of this proposal.
The release of the New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) report in late 2023 highlighted that Medicaid Forward could drastically reduce the uninsured rate, lower healthcare costs, and improve health outcomes, projecting a net savings for the state. The findings were celebrated by community groups and healthcare providers, reinforcing their long-standing research and advocacy for the program.
Building on that momentum, the 2024 Health Care Authority (HCA) report modeled the impact of various Medicaid Forward options, with the most expansive model eliminating income limits and capping healthcare spending at 5% of household income. This approach is projected to save the state money while expanding coverage and improving health outcomes. A bill for full implementation of Medicaid Forward will be introduced in the 2025 Legislative Session, sponsored by Incoming Leader Szczepanski, with the potential to transform healthcare access and affordability for all New Mexicans. For more information about New Mexico Together for Healthcare and Medicaid Forward, visit https://nmtogether4health.org/.
Key insights from the HCA report
- Medicaid Forward: A National First – New Mexico has the opportunity to become the first state to allow nearly all residents under age 65 to access Medicaid coverage through a sliding scale. Currently, only the District of Columbia has adopted a similar model, providing Medicaid coverage up to 215% of the federal poverty level (FPL). By implementing Medicaid Forward, New Mexico can lead the nation in providing affordable healthcare, improving lives, and strengthening communities.
- Affordable Coverage, Long-Term Savings – Medicaid Forward eliminates income limits for enrollment and introduces a cost-sharing structure that caps healthcare spending at 5% of income. This approach offers significantly lower-cost coverage than private insurance, with the potential to save New Mexico families thousands of dollars annually. For instance, a family of four earning $124,800 annually would pay no more than $6,240 per year under Medicaid Forward, compared to over $24,000 under BeWell or State Employee Benefits.
- Enhanced Access and Coverage – Medicaid Forward could reduce the uninsured rate in New Mexico by 48.1%, providing healthcare coverage for nearly all residents and improving overall health outcomes. Additionally, the model could increase Medicaid enrollment by 42.3%, including significant shifts from private insurance and state employee plans.
- Strengthening the Healthcare System – Medicaid Forward is projected to increase provider Medicaid revenues by 3.4% in order to maintain baseline, system-wide expenditure levels. This boost in funding will help healthcare providers sustain services as enrollment grows.
- Sustainable Financial Impact – The study predicts that New Mexico can implement Medicaid Forward without needing a waiver from the federal government, through a simple Medicaid state plan amendment. The plan’s projected state cost of $581.7 million is offset by the state’s revenue exceeding the associated costs, ultimately resulting in a net gain of $45.6 million for the state.
Media representatives are encouraged to RSVP in advance by contacting Paloma Mexika, Communications Director at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, at paloma@nmpovertylaw.org or (505) 305-2559 to coordinate interviews.
