New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez's administration is retooling the state's largest health care program in hopes of achieving two difficult goals: making people healthier while reining in Medicaid costs.
Nearly 90,000 uninsured New Mexicans are expected to enroll in Medicaid next year under terms of a federal health care law. States can expand eligibility while having the federal government initially pay the tab.
Also starting in January, the Human Services Department will roll out a revamped Medicaid program to better coordinate the services provided to needy New Mexicans by doctors, dentists, nurses as well as mental health and substance abuse therapists.
Medicaid costs will continue to rise because of expanding enrollment and inflation for medical services, but state officials hope to better control the growth rate over the long haul.
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