Well being care | Governor Indicators Historic Payments to Enhance Well being Care Affordability and Entry for New Mexicans

State information:

Fact or Penalties — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed laws Friday that builds on the administration’s work to make well being care extra reasonably priced and accessible for each New Mexican.

“New Mexico’s inhabitants wants a balanced method to offering high quality well being care that takes under consideration rural communities, New Mexicans who profit from Medicaid, and tens of hundreds of our state’s public workers,” stated Gov. Logan Grisham. ” “These are payments which can be having a constructive affect on a broad swath of New Mexicans.”

The governor signed these necessary well being care payments throughout a Fact or Penalties occasion at Sierra Vista Hospital.

“The signing of this laws supplies fast assist to our neighborhood in assembly the wants of our residents and the hundreds of New Mexicans who go to Elephant Butte State Park and Lake yearly,” stated Frank Cochran, CEO of Sierra Vista Hospital. ” “Moreover, the funds appropriated by this laws will consolidate our present operations and permit us to determine our much-needed behavioral well being capability, surgical providers, and extra providers.”

Home Invoice 7, the Well being Care Affordability Fund, lowers the price of insurance coverage for small companies, workers, and low- to moderate-income people via the state’s medical insurance change program, beWellnm. Since their creation in 2021, the Well being Care Affordability Fund applications have saved New Mexicans almost $45 million on medical insurance premiums, offering aid to six,000 small companies and 41,000 workers. The invoice maintains a 55% premium surcharge tax allocation to the fund that ensures continued future assist for this system. The invoice is sponsored by Reps. Rena Szczepinski and Meredith Dixon and Sen. Seah Correa Hemphill.

“Because it was created in 2021, the Well being Care Affordability Fund has made our state more healthy by serving to tens of hundreds of New Mexicans get reasonably priced medical insurance,” stated lead sponsor Home Majority Whip Rena Szczepinski. “Home Invoice 7 will keep the Well being Care Affordability Fund in order that employees can proceed to get the protection they want, small companies can supply the advantages their workers deserve, and we will decrease New Mexico’s uninsured charge. can proceed to scale back, which can decrease prices for everybody.”

Senate Invoice 14 finalizes the creation of the Well being Care Authority, a single unified division chargeable for well being care procurement, oversight and coverage. The well being care authority will improve coordination in well being care procurement for the state’s 180,000 public workers and give attention to enhancing plan design and affordability. The invoice is sponsored by Sens. Elizabeth Stefaniks, Mamie Stewart, Michael Padilla and Peter Price.

“Each New Mexican deserves entry to well being care. Constructing on our efforts final yr to determine the Well being Care Authority, this initiative now streamlines information sharing collaboration between the Division of Well being and the Well being Care Authority. will assist, and in the end enhance well being care entry and affordability throughout the state,” stated Sen. Elizabeth Stefaniks.

Senate Invoice 17, the Well being Care Supply and Entry Act, helps entry to care by establishing a Medicaid-directed cost program in rural New Mexico. Leveraging hospital assessments, this system would generate $1.3 billion in federal funds for the state’s hospitals. This landmark laws helps long-term monetary stability and entry to hospitals throughout the state, making certain well being care providers in rural New Mexico, the place rural hospitals typically battle to remain above the underside line. . The invoice is sponsored by Sens. Elizabeth Stefaniks, Michael Padilla and Martin Hickey and Reps. Doreen Gallegos and Jason Harper.

“Almost one-third of rural hospitals in New Mexico are susceptible to closing because of monetary challenges,” Sen. Stefaniks stated. “This new alternative in federal regulation to extend Medicaid funds to hospitals is a recreation changer that can give New Mexico the sources we have to present higher care in New Mexico. I wish to thank Governor Logan Grisham for enhancing care, however particularly for his continued assist for our rural communities.

Senate Invoice 161, Acute Care Services Subsidies, creates a short lived monetary help grant program for impartial rural hospitals till long-term assist from SB 17 takes impact in early 2025. And additional cuts in providers. The invoice is sponsored by Sens. George Muse and Pete Woods.

“Rural and regional hospitals are the guts of our communities and lots of of them are hanging on by a thread. Passing this measure and offering this funding is essential to their work and can assist them face a few of the challenges they face. will assist alleviate actual monetary pressures, permitting them to stay open and prioritize the well being and well-being of native residents,” stated Sen. George Muse. . “Thanks to Governor Logan Grisham for signing this invoice and taking care of our rural hospitals.”

The governor additionally signed the next well being care payments on Friday:

• Home Invoice 33, the Prescription Drug Value Transparency Act, sponsored by Rep. Pamelia Herndon, Christina Paragon, Sens. Elizabeth Stefaniks and Invoice Tallman.
• Home Invoice 165, Pharmacy Supplier Reimbursement, sponsored by Reps. Gayle Armstrong, Tara Jaramillo, Sens. Crystal R. Diamond and Pat Campos.
• Senate Invoice 135, Step Remedy Tips, sponsored by Sens. Elizabeth Stefaniks, Craig W. Brandt, Seh Correa Hemphill, Antonio Mestas and Danielle A. Ivey-Soto.