Medicaid Situation Still Undecided

Albuquerque Journal (Subscription) - In New Mexico, children 18 and younger comprise about 61 percent of the 550,000 people covered by Medicaid, the state and federally funded health care insurance program for the poor, said Matt Kennicott, a spokesman for the state Human Services Department. New Mexico now extends Medicaid coverage to about 336,000 children from families up to 235 percent of the federal poverty level, or $54,168 a year for a family of four. By comparison, the Affordable Care Act goes only to 133 percent of poverty. Under the new federal health care law, states can’t reduce Medicaid eligibility at least until new health care exchanges are up and running, if they so choose to do. Medicaid eligibility varies widely for New Mexico adults. Pregnant women are covered up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level, or $42,648 a year for a family of four. New Mexico remains in early discussion about what shape Medicaid will take under the new law, Kennicott said Thursday. Gov. Susana Martinez and state lawmakers have yet to weigh in, he said. “We’re still in very early conversations about what is going to happen in New Mexico,” he said. “There are lots of moving pieces and lots of people involved in this decision.” Read More News New Mexico

Medicaid Situation Still Undecided