For the legislative special session, the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) and Governor are proposing a Medicaid budget that raises concerns for assuring the protection of Medicaid during this historic public health crisis.
- The latest projections show Medicaid is facing a revenue shortfall of $73.8 million. Medicaid enrollment has been climbing while New Mexicans lose their jobs and health insurance in the pandemic.
- The proposed Medicaid budget does not cover this shortfall. It also presumes that the program will receive uncertain federal revenues. If federal funds yet to be voted on are reduced or not forthcoming, it could leave tens of thousands of New Mexican lives at stake. It could force the agency to cut payments to healthcare providers or Medicaid insurance companies, destabilizing NM’s key healthcare system in the midst of the pandemic.
- Leaving Medicaid unprotected can be avoided by passing the Healthcare Affordability Fund (2020 HB278) as our neighbor Colorado has had the foresight to recently do and other states are also investigating. This transfer of a recently rescinded federal fee on insurers to the state General Fund would not impact next year’s carrier premium projections, making it a golden window to do so. Moreover, it would come when insurers are sitting on large amounts of cash due to reduced claims. It assures equity for the health care of NM’s most vulnerable populations by protecting Medicaid and beginning the necessary inevitable addition of revenue to the NM budget.
- Call Governor Lujan Grisham and our legislators today to tell them: “Protect Medicaid. Fix the Medicaid budget hole. Bring back the healthcare affordability fund.”
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham: (505) 476-2200
Senate Finance Committee
John Arthur Smith:(575) 546-4979, (575) 546-8546
George K. Munoz:(505) 722-6570
(505) 722-0191
Steven P. Neville:(505) 327-5460
William F. Burt:(575) 434-1414, (575) 434-6140
Pete Campos:(505) 425-0508
Jacob R. Candelaria:(505) 847-5079
Gay G. Kernan:(505) 629-8081
Nancy Rodriguez:(505) 983-8913
Sander Rue:(505) 301-0189
John M. Sapien:(505) 765-5662
James P. White:(505) 271-4746
Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales:(575) 758-2674
House Appropriations and Finance Committee
Patricia A. Lundstrom:(505) 722-2980
Joseph L. Sanchez:(505) 986-4319
Anthony Allison:(505) 787-8494
Phelps Anderson:(575) 625-9152
Gail Armstrong:(505) 269-2364
Paul C. Bandy:(505) 334-0865
Cathrynn N. Brown:(575) 706-4420
Jack Chatfield:(575) 673-2320
Randal S. Crowder:(575) 763-3901
Harry Garcia:(505) 290-7510
Susan K. Herrera:(505) 579-0092
Tomás E. Salazar:(575) 421-2455
Nathan P. Small:(575) 496-9540
Melanie A. Stansbury:(505) 750-7079
Candie G. Sweetser:(575) 546-9011, (575) 546-2915
Christine Trujillo:(505) 235-8783
Rodolpho “Rudy” S. Martinez:(575) 534-7546
Health Action