Tagged: healthcare

New Mexico has one of the largest Native American populations in the nation with over 200,000 registered tribal members and it’s estimated that nearly 40% lacks health insurance. New Mexico has announced it will build a state-run healthcare exchange under the Affordable Care Act. However, the state has yet to decide on whether to expand Medicaid, which could mean a lot of tribal members would suddenly have access to affordable healthcare.

Take Erik Lujan for example: At the age of 30, Lujan, a Taos Pueblo tribal member, began experiencing medical problems.

The death rate of younger New Mexicans has increased by 20% over the past 12 years.

And 32 of the state’s 33 counties report shortages in healthcare professionals.

Those are two of the key findings in a report released today by the Con Alma Health Foundation in Santa Fe.

The report contains data about the overall health of the state’s population. For example, it states that substance abuse and mental disorders affect more than half a million New Mexicans.