Published in the Albuquerque Journal
June 30, 2015
As a recent article (“Medicaid expansion could boost economy,” June 21) by the Journal’s Winthrop Quigley pointed out, the need for health coverage among low-income people living in New Mexico was greatly underestimated, meaning many more residents are benefiting from the security of coverage than was initially expected.
The Journal’s Editorial Board noted (“Medicaid bill shows NM needs payment plan, jobs,” June 21) that this will soon become an issue for the state budget and that increasing jobs will get people off of Medicaid rolls. The great irony: Medicaid is driving the boom in health care sector, which added 5,000 jobs last year alone, according to the Department of Workforce Solutions. That’s 53 percent of all job growth.
Gov. Susana Martinez and the state Legislature should be commended for expanding Medicaid in New Mexico. Now they must continue to support the program as it improves our economy and the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in our state.
COLIN BAILLIO
Health Action New Mexico
Read more: http://www.abqjournal.com/606216/opinion/talk-of-the-town-179.html