SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico stands to lose critical funding for substance abuse treatment that helps combat a local opioid epidemic, under a Republican campaign in Washington, D.C. to roll back President Barack Obama's health care law.
Reforms approved by the U.S. House would phase out expanded Medicaid that allows states to provide federally backed insurance to low-income adults, including behavior health treatment for addiction. New Mexico senators protested the plans Tuesday.
New Mexico officials say the local Medicaid expansion population accounts for one in five dollars spent on behavioral health treatment — $101 million out of $477 million annually.
State Behavioral Health Services Division Director Wayne Lindstrom predicts a major setback for substance abuse treatment and other behavior health programs if Republicans do away with federal Medicaid expansion funding.