HB 13 is a bill that would provide emergency Medicaid coverage for COVID-19 testing and treatment to thousands of uninsured New Mexicans who are undocumented. In New Mexico, there is an emergency Medicaid program, EMSA, that provides coverage for emergency medical services for immigrants who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid but do not qualify because of their citizenship status. Importantly, the New Mexico Health and Human Services Department’s current EMSA rules do not cover COVID treatment outside of the emergency room or ICU.
This bill was heard by the House Health and Human Services Committee 2/1/20 and passed 8:1. 31 people made public comments in support of the bill.
I wanted to share my testimony with you:
"I am an Ob-Gyn resident here in New Mexico. Through my work, I provide care for many women in our communities throughout New Mexico. During this pandemic, I have witnessed first hand the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women of color and low-income women, including undocumented women. Many of the undocumented women I've worked with over the past year are also frontline workers who are providing essential services to our community. They often have more exposure to the virus and less access to healthcare services. The cost of testing and early treatment is an enormous barrier for many undocumented patients, who often present later for care and at a later stage of disease.
One important step in reducing the health disparities related to COVID-19 is making access to testing and treatment available for everyone in our community. Undocumented women living in New Mexico are the loved ones of New Mexicans who are citizens, your constituents. Families and communities here in New Mexico are not segregated by citizenship and neither should our testing and treatment for COVID-19.
Providing funding is an essential part of increasing access to these services. I want to take this opportunity to ask that you to consider how we can care for and protect everyone in our community----by expanding our coverage to include undocumented people who are a vital and essential part of New Mexico and supporting HB 13."
Thanks to Casa de Salud NM for their work organizing around this bill.
If you are a healthcare provider interested in writing an Op-Ed letter, Gaby Hernandez of Casa de Salud has offered support in getting it published.
-"The public needs to hear your stories! Send your letter to Gaby gaby@casadesaludnm.org and I will support you in getting it published."
You can also call or email your legislator to support this bill:
(https://www.nmlegis.gov/Members/Find_My_Legislator )
<3 Emmeline
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