SANTA FE, N.M. – Some state lawmakers know there’s a lot of New Mexicans who just can’t find coverage that fits in their budget, so they want the state to help out.

“Right now, too many New Mexicans are left behind by a health care system that is just out of reach,” said House Majority Floor Leader Reena Sczepanski.

Democratic state Rep. Reena Sczepanski wants to change that system with House Bill 186, the Medicaid Forward Plan.

It’s a proposal expanding Medicaid eligibility in New Mexico to residents who currently make too much money to qualify for government-managed health insurance. Right now, that limit for a family of four is around $43,000 a year.

“The status quo is leaving hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans behind. We know that over 200,000 New Mexicans currently do not have insurance,” said Sczepanski. 

Sczepanski’s bill would drastically increase those income limits on a sliding scale, while also limiting out-of-pocket costs to just 5% of someone’s income.

“These will be the largest increases that we have seen in health care coverage since the Affordable Care Act,” Sczepanski. 

The proposal also increases reimbursement rates for local doctors, hopefully encouraging them to accept more Medicaid patients. Like the current Medicaid program, the feds are expected to cover at least 70% of the costs. That’s where Republican lawmakers raised concerns.

“If we’re going to rely on the federal dollars flowing into New Mexico, I think we really need to rethink the plan, especially now,” said state Rep. Alan Martinez. 

Despite those concerns, the Medicaid Forward plan cleared its first House committee, but it hasn’t shown up on the schedule since.

If fully approved, the state’s Health Care Authority would have until 2028 to get the expanded program up and running.

Track HB 186 during the legislative session.