NEW MEXICO’S MOONSHOT OF INVESTMENTS

New Mexico is the only state in the country that fully funded the ACA (“Obamacare”) tax credits after Republicans in Congress refused to extend them. Health insurance enrollment has increased 17% in New Mexico thanks to the Health Care Affordability fund.   Since Republicans in Congress let the tax credits expire, millions of people in other states are dropping coverage because they can’t afford the higher health insurance premiums.   Created in 2021, the Health Care Affordability Fund makes health and dental insurance affordable for 84,000 New Mexicans and 6,000 employees of small businesses. The fund protects tens of thousands of low-income and lawfully present residents impacted by Medicaid cuts from losing coverage.   Coming in 2027: Hospitals can’t surprise you with extra fees for routine services like vaccinations and telehealth!

New Mexico is the 5th largest state in the country by area, and almost 700,000 people live in rural areas. Mobile health clinics, in-home care networks, and statewide telehealth programs bring medical services such as preventive care, screenings, diabetes education, well-child check ups and vaccinations directly to those New Mexicans. For instance, after an outbreak of measles, 60 mobile clinics traveled through 11 counties to provide MMR vaccinations.    Telemedicine allows rural residents to address medical problems such as asthma attacks in a quick and easy way via their computer or phone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   New Mexicans can also manage their healthcare benefits, such as Medicaid, directly from their smartphones using the YesNM mobile app.   The state is also helping rural clinics so they can better serve rural residents. A central hub that can provide technical and management support for rural clinics will be available soon through the New Mexico Health Care Authority.

A bill passed in 2026 will ensure that New Mexico funds hospitals that care for Medicaid members, after Republicans in Congress passed their OBBA bill that dramatically cuts Medicaid.

Even in cities there are barriers to getting health care, such as school schedules or transportation problems. Mobile health clinics that come to schools or community centers provide pediatric and preventative care, prescriptions, sports physicals, and more to students, faculty, and community members in underserved areas within cities.   State funded health care teams also go to temporary housing, shelters, and streets to treat vulnerable and unsheltered individuals.

With over 40% of the state’s residents on Medicaid, and a potential loss of billions of health care dollars, New Mexico leaders have begun preparing for upcoming federal Medicaid work requirements that have been described as “super complicated.” To make sure that eligible people keep the benefits they’re qualified for, New Mexico’s Health Care Authority is exploring all appropriate ways to look at the ways people can verify their eligibility and be compliant with the new rules.

A 2021 law suspended out-of-pocket costs for mental health services, making behavioral health in New Mexico more affordable.   In 2025, with a trio of bills and $550 million in one-time funding for behavioral health services, the state legislature began to reverse the dismantling of behavioral health services by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez in 2013. The bills established a regional approach, setting up 13 regions with community-based nonprofits that could identify up to five behavioral health priorities (such as counseling, substance abuse treatment, and crisis intervention) and request funding to tackle them with a four-year plan.   The bill also made significant changes to how substance use treatment programs are managed statewide. It established a “no wrong door” approach to addiction to ensure that New Mexicans get referred to the help they need no matter which part of the health system they approach first.    New Mexico has been selected as one of ten states to receive enhanced federal Medicaid funding for an initiative aimed at transforming behavioral health services. This development is part of a four-year Medicaid Demonstration program spearheaded by the federal government.

The Medical Malpractice Reform Bill of 2026 will help reduce the cost of medical malpractice insurance and attract more doctors to New Mexico. This bill is critical for rural hospitals who need OB-GYN doctors to provide pre-natal and delivery services to pregnant women. Nearly 18% of women in New Mexico lack access to birthing hospitals within 30 minutes of home.   The University of New Mexico plans to double its School of Medicine class size to 200 students over the next decade to combat the state’s shortages of health care professionals, such as physician assistants, occupational therapists, dental hygienists, and doctors.   New Mexico offers loan repayment and forgiveness programs for both medical students and practicing professionals.