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Republicans Want to Strip Coverage from New Mexicans

Commentary: New Mexico - In an attempt to gain votes, Republicans in Congress are attempting to make Trump’s Health care plan even worse, by eliminating basic coverage requirements.

 

Some of the most concerning revisions would eliminate care for New Mexico children and those seeking substance abuse services. Specifically, Republicans are moving to eliminate Essential Health Benefits from Americans’ coverage, which means that insurance companies will no longer be required to cover the following services:

 

  • Pediatric services, including oral and vision care
  • Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (this includes counseling and psychotherapy)
  • Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
  • Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
  • Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care you get without being admitted to a hospital)
  • Emergency services
  • Hospitalization (like surgery and overnight stays)
  • Prescription drugs
  • Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)
  • Laboratory services

 
This news comes after news that the proposed Trump healthcare plan would kick 24 million people off their current healthcare coverage, including more than 265,000 New Mexicans currently covered under Medicaid expansion. 

 

In addition, per-person costs to the state will increase from $457 annually to $1,227, and New Mexico would pay more for basic services and have less money to support hospitals in rural areas remote areas.