By Susan Dunlap, NM Political Report
July 5, 2023
Individuals receiving a large, turquoise envelope through the mail should open it because it could be from the New Mexico Human Services Department informing the family they are losing Medicaid coverage.
With the end of the federal public health emergency in May, individuals who have not recertified or shown documentation to prove eligibility over the last three years will lose Medicaid coverage.
Lorelei Kellogg, New Mexico Human Services Department Medicaid director, told NM Political Report that the federal public health emergency came with “pretty strict mandates about disenrolling people,” from Medicaid if they have not recertified or have not provided documentation proving eligibility.
Theresa Noedel, Holy Cross Medical Center benefit navigation coordinator in Taos, said many people don’t realize they’ve lost their Medicaid coverage until they are at a hospital or a doctor’s office and the medical staff tell the patient they do not have insurance. Noedel said that when patients learn they’ve lost their Medicaid coverage through a doctor’s office or hospital, they are often “freaking out.”
“Especially if they don’t have the money to pay for care or medication,” Noedel said.
Read more at NM Political Report