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BernCo Commission To Hear Medicaid ‘Buy-In' Proposal

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CREATIVE COMMONS

Bernalillo County commissioners are set to hear a resolution Tuesday that would call on state lawmakers to design a public buy-in program for health insurance coverage.

Adriann Barboa with New Mexico Together for Healthcare said they designed the measure to put pressure on state lawmakers to create something like a Medicaid buy-in option. People who are undocumented or have mixed tribal status could benefit, she said. 

“Folks that are just above the poverty line that don’t currently qualify for Medicaid, so we are really talking about the under ensured,” she said.

Barboa said that a study is currently being conducted on how much a plan like this could cost. And that they will have a bill ready for the 2019 legislative session.  

A Medicaid buy-in program would allow New Mexicans to pay for coverage under the program.

County Commission Chair Steven Michael Quezada sponsored the measure. 

Bryce Dix is our local host for NPR's Morning Edition.
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