Jay Block, a senator from New Mexico, said that approximately 100,000 unqualified individuals received Medicaid benefits in the state as recently as 2023. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"Remember when I put forward a bill for government transparency and efficiency, and the Democrats refused to work with me," said Jay C Block, New Mexico State Senator from 12th District (R). "I talked about Medicaid fraud, and I was told from naysayers there is no fraud? Well, we knew they were wrong, and here's the proof! Approx. 100,000 unqualified people received Medicaid benefits in New Mexico as recently as 2023."
New Mexico's Medicaid program has come under increased scrutiny following federal audits that identified significant compliance issues. In May 2024, federal auditors recommended that the state refund nearly $120 million in capitation payments related to nursing-facility level-of-care determinations that did not meet requirements. An August 2024 review revealed that many personal care attendants lacked necessary qualifications. These findings are consistent with ongoing investigations by the state's Office of Inspector General and Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
The state's Medicaid enrollment remains high amid post-pandemic eligibility reviews, with notable errors detected in the process. A report from June 2025 by the Legislative Finance Committee indicated that Medicaid covered 809,976 residents, representing about 38% of New Mexico's population. The report also referenced data from the Kaiser Family Foundation showing that 96.4% of disenrollments were procedural, suggesting most removals were due to paperwork issues rather than actual ineligibility. This underscores administrative challenges in accurately managing eligibility, according to the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee.
Improper Medicaid payment rates differ significantly across states, reflecting varied oversight outcomes. In the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) 2024 Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) cycle, Florida reported an overall improper payment rate of 7.0%, while Texas registered 1.3%, and Washington just 0.2%. Although these figures are not directly comparable due to differing systems, they illustrate the range of compliance challenges nationally and provide context for New Mexico's oversight environment.
Jay C. Block is a Republican senator representing New Mexico’s 12th District, having taken office in 2025 after winning election in 2024. A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, he served as an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) officer and was deployed to Afghanistan before working in nuclear policy roles at Air Force Space Command and the Pentagon. After retiring in 2016, he became a defense contractor and served two terms on the Sandoval County Commission before entering the Senate.
