¾ÅÉ«Íø Callin Show 2/16 8a: New Mexico expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and the number of people covered by the program will grow to more than 900,000 by the end of June. That's about 44 percent of the state's population.
Under the expansion, 244,000 people were added and the federal government picks up 95 percent of those premium costs right now. But New Mexico must still pony up matching funds for the rest of the program and lawmakers are grappling with a budget pounded by plummeting oil and gas revenues. Options could include cutting back on benefits, adding co-pays and lowering provider reimbursement rates. Looming on the horizon are proposals at the federal level to turn Medicaid into a block grant program.
What will all this mean for vulnerable New Mexicans? Have you gotten health coverage under the Medicaid expansion? What would changes to the program mean for you and your family? We want to hear from you. Email callinshow@kunm.org or call toll free 1-877-899-5866 during the show.
Guests:
, attorney for
, O'Donnell Economics & Strategy and
, R-Aztec, member of Legislative Finance Committee
, D-Albuquerque, Chair of Health and Human Services Committee
, Executive Director of
, Belen physician.
Further Reading:
- - Santa Fe New Mexican
- - Los Alamos Monitor
- - Santa Fe New Mexican
- - Washington Post
- - Santa Fe New Mexican
- - ¾ÅÉ«Íø
- - Albuquerque Journal
- - Santa Fe New Mexican
- - Albuquerque Journal
- - AgriPulse
- - KRWG
- - Santa Fe New Mexican
- - Santa Fe New Mexican
***
The project examines ethics, transparency and accountability in state government. The project is funded by the Thornburg Foundation and by contributions from ¾ÅÉ«Íø listeners.
