COUNTY HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE FUND USE

SB 45 expands the uses of New Mexico county health care assistance funds to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs (like copayments and deductibles) for indigent patients. This directly affects low-income individuals who qualify as indigent and rely on county health care assistance programs. The bill amends existing law to add these specific coverage options while maintaining previous uses like burial expenses, ambulance transport, and hospital care. It does not change eligibility criteria but broadens the types of health care costs counties can pay for using these dedicated funds.