New Mexico shores up Medicaid spending rates at hospitals

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Public comments are being sought on a plan to increase annual Medicaid spending on reimbursements to hospitals in New Mexico by $169 million.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday announced the increased reimbursement rates designed to shore up professional health care networks.
All told, lawmakers have arranged a quarter-billion dollar increase in annual spending on Medicaid services starting July 1.
For hospitals, about $34 million of the $169 million increase will come from the state general fund, while the federal government pays the rest. The new announcement comes on the heels of a proposed $60 million annual increase in Medicaid reimbursements to physicians and clinicians.
Human Service Department spokeswoman Jodi McGinnis-Porter says reimbursements are set to increase by 18% for outpatient services and 9% for in-patient hospital stays.