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Governor Bill Richardson Enacts Legislation to Improve Health Care for New Mexicans

(Santa Fe, NM) – Governor Richardson enacted several pieces of legislation during the recently completed legislative session to expand and improve health care for New Mexicans.

“It was an enormously productive session in the health care arena,” said Governor Richardson. “We expanded insurance coverage, provided tax relief to providers and hospitals, enhanced services and focused on children and adults with special needs.”  

The state budget includes funding to expand Medicaid to cover adults up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. This will mean that the Human Services Department will receive $10.9 million in funding to cover up to 18,000 more adults on Medicaid. A single adult will now qualify for Medicaid if they have an annual income below $10,200.  Previously only adults earning less than $4,000 qualified. 

In addition the department will receive $750,000 to hire 44 new staff members to handle the increased caseloads, including positions for Native American outreach workers. A disproportionately lower number of Native American children are enrolled in Medicaid compared to other populations.  

Bills Expanding Health Insurance Coverage:

Several bills affecting insurance coverage were signed including:  

SB 529 requires insurance companies to pay for hearing and related services for insured children under 18 years of age or under 21 years of age if still attending high school.  The coverage would include the full cost of one hearing aid per hearing impaired ear up to $2,220 every 36 months. 

SB 536 allows individuals to buy additional behavioral health coverage from the Medical Insurance Pool. 

SB 776 requires insurance companies to cover general anesthesia for certain dental patients and conditions. 

HB 510 requires coverage for colorectal cancer screening.  

SB 407 Mandates coverage for the new HPV vaccine for girls age 9 to 14 years old. 

SB 428 allows small employers to join the Small Employer Insurance Program by removing the requirement that they have been without insurance in the previous 12 months.  

HB 694 extends health care coverage to more children of split families by giving the court more options to determine which parent should be responsible for the child’s medical support.   

Expanded Services:

The Department of Health budget included $6.1 million to serve more individuals who have developmental disabilities and $3.9 million for an array of services that will help families who deal with autism. DOH also secured an additional $1 million in recurring funding to strengthen New Mexico’s trauma system statewide and help hospitals care for patients in an emergency. And New Mexico will invest $500,000 to expand telehealth initiatives and implement electronic medical records to help providers in rural New Mexico.  

The Children Youth and Families Department received a $21 million increase in funding to allow Juvenile Justice Services and Child Protective Services to hire more workers, provide more treatment for incarcerated girls, and to make much-needed improvements in facilities.  Foster parents will now receive a higher reimbursement rate. There will also be more financial support for parents who adopt children with special needs including increased support for medical care and a tax credit for parents who adopt special needs children. Childcare for children with special needs also received more funding. 

Tax Relief for Hospitals and Providers:

Governor Richardson also signed House Bill 638, which provides a variety of tax credits and deductions for multiple types of health care providers. 

“A key priority of my administration is to retain and attract health care providers to New Mexico,” said Governor Richardson. “These tax incentives will help hospitals -- particularly those in rural areas -- create jobs, invest in technology and expand patient services.” 

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