Medicaid Forward Act pursues expansion of health care coverage for thousands of working families

Santa Fe, NM - Innovative legislation laying the groundwork for the expansion of affordable health care coverage for New Mexicans passed the House of Representatives tonight with a bipartisan vote of 58-10. 

House Bill 400, the Medicaid Forward Act, would evaluate New Mexico's existing Medicaid program to consider expansion options for affordable health care plans on an income-based sliding scale for those who earn too much to qualify for standard Medicaid. This legislation directs the Human Services Department to conduct a comprehensive study then craft a proposal for implementation.  

"The potential is clear to provide coverage for tens of thousands of uninsured New Mexicans and bring down health care costs for hundreds of thousands more. That's why we saw such a strong bipartisan vote tonight," said Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski. 

"Health care costs are among the greatest anxieties New Mexico families face, but we have an incredibly promising new path to get families the affordable care they need."

Central to the potential of this initiative would be leveraging Medicaid's 3-1 federal match, bringing substantial federal resources into New Mexico's health care system. If implemented, the health care expansions in House Bill 400 could increase reimbursement rates to help with provider recruitment and retention, strengthen the current Medicaid program, and reduce costs across our health care system. 

The bill is sponsored by Whip Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque), Senators Siah Correa Hemphill (D-Silver City) and Leo Jaramillo (D-Española), and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque). 

House Bill 400 will now head to the Senate for consideration.