New Initiatives to Address Nutritional Needs During Pregnancy, Medical Respite Housing, and Support for Individuals Exiting Incarceration
SANTA FE, NM – The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) announced Monday that the state has received federal approval to initiate new Medicaid programs targeting individual healthrelated social needs.
These programs aim to provide comprehensive support to vulnerable populations, focusing on nutrition during pregnancy, housing stability during medical recovery, and health care access for individuals transitioning from incarceration.
'New Mexico has taken a bold step forward in its approach to addressing social needs that affect overall health,' said Kari Armijo, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Health Care Authority. 'Medicaid covers half the population in our state, so by addressing health-related social needs, like using food as medicine to control conditions like gestational diabetes or ensuring that services are coordinated and provided prior to individuals leaving jail or prison, we can effect real changes in overall health for New Mexicans.'
Pending legislative funding, New Mexico aims to offer services not typically covered by Medicaid, utilizing innovative service delivery systems to improve care, increase efficiency, and reduce costs.
'Medicaid has a unique ability to be the testing grounds for innovative public health ideas that effect positive results— both in terms of improved health outcomes and cost savings,' said Dana Flannery, Medicaid Director. 'We are very excited to receive federal approval to begin this work with the goals of helping individuals avoid later, more costly health care services.'
Key Impacts Starting in July 2025, food-insecure pregnant beneficiaries with conditions like gestational diabetes will be eligible to receive nutritious, prepared meals or healthy groceries to support their health needs and improve maternal health outcomes. Additionally, older adults and adults with disabilities will be eligible for home-delivered meals, enabling them to remain in their homes and communities instead of institutional facilities.
Medical Recovery Housing Recovering from a hospital stay, illness, or injury can be challenging, especially without stable housing. A new Medicaid program will provide short-term housing stability during recovery, which may include monitoring the individual's condition and other support. This initiative will begin with a small pilot program for medical respite.
Health Care for Individuals Leaving Incarceration When individuals leave prison or jail, they often face gaps in health care access. With backgrounds of trauma, poverty, mental illness, substance use disorder, and other acute health needs, access to health care is crucial for successful community re-entry. The Justice Involved Reentry project will connect eligible adults and youth to health care services up to 90 days before their release from detention, prison, or jail. By providing these services, New Mexico aims to reduce emergency department visits, overdose-related deaths, and inpatient hospitalizations among this population.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the state’s five-year, 1115 Demonstration Waiver to operate its managed care program and demonstrate continued progress toward comprehensive, equitable health care for nearly one million New Mexicans who rely on Medicaid for health care services.
With federal approval in place, the state will now begin the implementation planning process to launch these new programs in 2025.