INDEPENDENT HEALTH PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT

HB 562 appropriates $3 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Health Care Authority for fiscal year 2026 to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates specifically for independent rural health care providers. This funding directly benefits rural clinics and healthcare professionals serving underserved communities by improving their payment rates under Medicaid. The bill requires all allocated funds to be spent by the end of fiscal year 2026, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund. It does not change Medicaid eligibility or provider qualifications, focusing solely on increasing reimbursement amounts through dedicated funding.