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New Mexico’s congressional delegation is calling for more oversight of funds meant to soften the impact of federal health care cuts in rural areas. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) sent a letter signed by 27 Democratic members of Congress, including New Mexico's other representatives, Democrats Gabe Vasquez and Melanie Stansbury, to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

At a roundtable discussion hosted by Democratic U. S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (second from right) on Friday, experts, providers and more discussed the potential impacts to Medicaid, which covers 40% of New Mexicans, by what's known as the "Big Beautiful Bill." Heinrich says 96,000 people could lose health coverage and Troy Clark, president of the New Mexico Hospitals Association said six to eight hospitals might be forced to close if federal funds dry up.

A revised report presented to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee shows prices for hospital procedures depend on who is paying the tab. The report shows that uninsured patients paying out of pocket often have the highest rates.