Want to Balance Budget? Change NM poverty line

Commentary by Michael Swickard, Ph.D. – The quickest way to address the current budget shortfall which is very much tied to Medicaid is to look at the New Mexico description of poverty for Medicaid.

Over the years to get more participation in New Mexico Medicaid and more federal reimbursement the state changed the apparent poverty line from the federal standard description to the New Mexico Poverty line which was 235% of federal mark.

Why not bring the New Mexico poverty line back closer to the federal line?

Just asking.

Want to Balance Budget? Change NM poverty line