The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) has received federal approval to extend continuous health insurance coverage to 92,842 children from birth to age six. This extension, set to take effect in January 2024, will eliminate the need for children in this age group to manually renew their Medicaid coverage. It also paves the way for an expansion of the Medicaid Home visiting program to include more providers.
The Medicaid Home visiting program offers in-home services for Medicaid beneficiaries, providing prenatal and postpartum care, infant care, health and nutrition guidance, and child development support. According to a press release by HSD, enhancements have been made to existing services such as the Linkages program which provides support for individuals struggling with substance misuse disorders. The press release also mentions that legally responsible individuals like parents are now authorized to receive compensation as caretakers for children who are receiving specific Medicaid services.
Kari Armijo, cabinet secretary for HSD, said in the press release: "With Medicaid covering 75% of all births in New Mexico, this achievement is a monumental milestone, offering significant support to 92,842 children in the state. This change eases the administrative burden on families by eliminating the need for annual Medicaid renewals for children from birth to age six — we are ensuring uninterrupted access to essential health care services for our youngest New Mexicans."
Lorelei Kellogg, Acting New Mexico Medicaid Director, also expressed her views on this expansion. "This expansion is a significant step towards fostering family wellness and child development from the comfort of home," Kellogg said according to the same press release.
HSD manages a budget of approximately $7 billion and oversees state and federal funds aimed at providing essential services to low-income residents in New Mexico. According to information provided on HSD's webpage, programs under its jurisdiction cover various areas including behavioral health services, child support enforcement, community services coordination, assistance for individuals with disabilities, energy assistance, meals for the homeless, Medicaid, refugee resettlement, school commodity foods, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) education, SNAP itself, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and The Emergency Food Assistance Program.
