SENATE BILL 370

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Katy M. Duhigg and Joseph Cervantes and Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; REQUIRING THE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR OBSTETRICS OR GYNECOLOGY HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO INCREASE BY TWO HUNDRED FIFTY PERCENT; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public Assistance Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] REIMBURSEMENT FOR OBSTETRICS OR GYNECOLOGY SERVICES.--

          A. The medicaid reimbursement rate for all obstetrics or gynecology health care services that are covered by the New Mexico medicaid program shall be at least two hundred fifty percent of the medicare reimbursement rate for the equivalent service.

          B. Using the medicaid reimbursement rate for each obstetrics or gynecology health care service as of July 1, 2024 as a baseline for comparison:

                (1) obstetrics or gynecology health care services covered by medicaid, but not covered by medicare, shall receive an increase in the medicaid reimbursement rate proportional to the average percentage increase in reimbursement that obstetrics or gynecology health care services receive pursuant to Subsection A of this section; and

                (2) all health care entities that receive increases in medicaid reimbursement pursuant to this section shall ensure that at least seventy-five percent of the increase in reimbursement revenue is used to:

                     (a) provide increased compensation to health care workers and other employees who interact directly with patients; or

                     (b) hire additional health care workers and other employees who interact directly with patients.

          C. For the purposes of this section:

                (1) "medicaid" means the federal-state program administered by the authority pursuant to Title 19 or Title 21 of the federal Social Security Act; and

                (2) "medicare" means coverage provided pursuant to part A or part B of Title 18 of the federal Social Security Act, as amended."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the health care authority for expenditure in fiscal year 2026 to provide increased medicaid reimbursement for obstetrics or gynecology health care services. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2026 shall revert to the general fund.

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