NM looks to lead the nation in health care with Medicaid buy-in option

Althea Yazzie, from McKinley County, said it was a slow build toward her support of Medicaid buy-in. But when her grandson was born premature and her son and his wife were stuck with an unexpectedly large bill, she started advocating for the option. That option would allow people to pay a premium, like for private […]

NM looks to lead the nation in health care with Medicaid buy-in option

Althea Yazzie, from McKinley County, said it was a slow build toward her support of Medicaid buy-in.

But when her grandson was born premature and her son and his wife were stuck with an unexpectedly large bill, she started advocating for the option. That option would allow people to pay a premium, like for private insurance, to buy into Medicaid or a Medicaid-like program.

Earlier this year, the state Legislature passed a memorial authorizing a study into the viability of Medicaid buy-in for the state.

Supporters say this would not only save money for those buying in, but also for the state and hospitals.

Yazzie and others gathered at the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church Monday, the 53rd anniversary of when President Lyndon Johnson signed a bill creating Medicare and Medicaid, to discuss the option.

The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty helped organize the event, but the organization’s supervising attorney for healthcare, Abuko Estrada, said it was people like Yazzie who pushed the proposal forward.

“I think it goes back to community here in New Mexico being so strong and having that understanding that no family should go without health coverage because they can’t afford it,” Estrada said. “We’ve worked with families across the state to take that message to everyone and to really build upon that foundation.”

Yazzie says friends and neighbors have encouraged her.

“People are just for us and they tell us to just fight for them. That’s how we got this whole thing going,” Yazzie said. “We went on the media, we went out talking to people, we got people to come in and support us.”

A leader in the space

Ben Ray Lujan, the Democratic congressman who represents the state’s 3rd Congressional District, also attended the meeting.

Lujan said that Medicaid is a key way to expand access to health care in a way that is affordable, accessible and high-quality.

“I would argue, in New Mexico where we have over 40 percent of New Mexicans who are benefiting from Medicaid, that we already have a large pool,” he said. “So a buy-in program in New Mexico can build upon that success.” It would be another choice for people to find coverage, he said, and the infrastructure is already in place.

Andy Slavitt, a former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Barack Obama, agreed that New Mexico could lead the nation. About a dozen other states are considering Medicaid buy-in programs, he said, but New Mexico is furthest along in the process.

“I think if New Mexico keeps its plan together and keeps working and gets everybody involved, it could be the first state in the nation and a shining light, much in the way Massachusetts was when Romneycare passed it became a model,” he said.

It’s important for states to lead the way in the effort is important, Slavitt said, because states can’t count on the federal government to lead the way any more.

Something that can be done now

While Medicaid buy-in would expand health care options, there is another, more drastic solution: Medicare-for-all.

This single-payer system would insure all Americans without co-pays or premiums. A study from a libertarian think tank estimated it would cost the federal government $32.6 trillion over ten years—but overall health spending in the United States would actually be less than with the current system.

But Medicare-for-all wouldn’t happen very quickly.

“I think [Medicaid buy-in] is an option that can be achieved sooner while other options will continue to be debated, looking at the thresholds required to get those implemented as well,” Lujan said.

He also noted that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who is sponsoring the Medicare-for-all bill, is also co-sponsor of the Senate version of the Medicaid buy-in bill.

Lujan takes a pragmatic look at the issue.

“The idea here is how do we build the conversation and ultimately get this passed and implemented to provide more opportunities, affordable care, accessible care and high-quality care to people across New Mexico,” he said.

For an increasing number of Democrats, Medicare-for-all is the ultimate goal, something Kimberly Espinoza, Lujan’s health advisor, acknowledged.

“The Congressman’s obviously working very hard in his other role as a reality in a blue house, but there’s still so many hurdles,” she said. “And while we’re jumping those hurdles at the federal level, people are going without coverage.”

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
Gov signs bills with some vetoes 

Gov signs bills with some vetoes 

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed 69 bills that the legislature passed during the 2024 legislative session. These included the General Appropriations Act which contains…
Guv signs state budget

Guv signs state budget

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the budget bill for Fiscal Year 2025 and the Capital Outlay spending bill. The FY25 state budget bill passed…
Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

New Mexico advocates seeking to have the Gila River designated as a Wild and Scenic River will travel to Washington D.C. this week to…

NM Supreme Court annuls $10,000 penalty in PNM/Avangrid merger case

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a penalty the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission levied against the state’s largest utility was…
State fines oil company more than $2 million after spill

State fines oil company more than $2 million after spill

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department fined an oil and gas company operating in the Permian Basin more than $2 million over produced…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
Supreme Court censures attorney over conduct in anti-COVID policy suits

Supreme Court censures attorney over conduct in anti-COVID policy suits

The New Mexico State Supreme Court censured a New Mexico attorney because of her “misconduct” in two unsuccessful cases pushing back on COVID-19 regulations…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

President Joe Biden highlighted reproductive rights issues as part of his State of the Union speech Thursday. Biden delivered his 2024 State of the…
Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

U.S. House of Rep. Melanie Stansbury has invited an OB-GYN doctor from Roswell as her guest for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

President Joe Biden highlighted reproductive rights issues as part of his State of the Union speech Thursday. Biden delivered his 2024 State of the…
Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

U.S. House of Rep. Melanie Stansbury has invited an OB-GYN doctor from Roswell as her guest for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union…
See who’s going to be on your primary ballot in June

See who’s going to be on your primary ballot in June

Tuesday marked the official beginning of the 2024 New Mexico primary season for the legislature, with candidates officially filing for candidacy. This is the…

Bill to require disclosure of use of AI in campaign materials goes to governor

The Senate approved a bill aiming to require the disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence or other changes made by computers to campaign…
House amends, passes bill banning firearms near polling places

House amends, passes bill banning firearms near polling places

The House narrowly approved a bill that would ban firearms near polling places. The House voted 35-34 to pass the bill following an extensive…
Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

New Mexico advocates seeking to have the Gila River designated as a Wild and Scenic River will travel to Washington D.C. this week to…
U.S. Supreme Court lets ban on Couy Griffin from holding office stand

U.S. Supreme Court lets ban on Couy Griffin from holding office stand

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a Republican official who was barred from holding office after being convicted for a…
Politics Newsletter: legislative leaders not running for reelection

Politics Newsletter: legislative leaders not running for reelection

Hello fellow political junkies! Candidate filing day has come and gone, and members of House and Senate leadership opted to either not seek reelection…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report