New Mexico to expand Medicaid program

[TygrBright]

Source: AP/Yahoo

"SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- Republican Gov. Susana Martinez says New Mexico will follow provisions of a federal health care law to expand the state's Medicaid program to potentially provide medical services to 170,000 low-income adults.

New Mexico will join at least 15 other states and the District of Columbia in broadening eligibility for the health care program under terms of a health care overhaul championed by President Barack Obama.

Martinez made the announcement Wednesday during a speech in Albuquerque.

About a fourth of New Mexico's population currently receives health care through Medicaid, but the program mostly covers uninsured children in low-income families along with the disabled and some extremely low-income adults."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/mexico-expand-medicaid-program-202605825.html

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One small step for a GOPpie Goob, one giant leap for the people of a state with one of the largest percentages of uninsured residents in America. And yes, this story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022148937

Probably had a lot to do with it. Thanks to EVERYONE involved. Too long a list to include everyone, but special props to Health Action New Mexico, Con Alma Health Foundation, NM Health Equity Working Group, and NM Center on Law and Poverty. And to the THOUSANDS of New Mexicans who signed petitions, showed up at rallies, sent emails and voicemails, and showed loud and clear that we care about our neighbors.

The level of chaos, incompetence, medieval outlook, and corruption in this state's power structure annoys the crap out of me almost all the time. And sometimes it's all the way to "WTF am I DOING here?" Then something like this happens and reminds me: We have some of the best, strongest, loudest-voiced, hardest-working advocates ANYWHERE, and a culture of community support and caring for each other that can overcome the Machine.

Partying down in 3...2...1...

happily,
Bright

[bluestateguy]

1. I guess she is not running for president

because that decision would burn her in a GOP primary.

[TygrBright]

2. Yes, but what clinched THAT deal was the report showing NM with negative job growth...

...for the past two years.

She campaigned on creating jobs, then when she was elected she promptly fired 5,000 state employees.

Being from Texas, she didn't actually grasp what a poor state NM is, and how much of the state's employment base is in the public sector. Then the lege successfully blocked a number of her efforts to turn the state over to her pals in the TX Oiligarchy and create shitty jobs that produce vast profits for them under unsafe working conditions with crappy pay.

And her attempts to play to the Teeper base by enacting a lot of anti-brown-people "ID" and "Drivers License" requirements blew up in her face in a state where just about everyone's related to or knows an immigrant, and a huge percent of the population is <gasp> brown.

What's a poor Goob to do?

gleefully,
Bright

[TexasTowelie]

3. Why can't Texas get a governor that has a lick of sense? n/t

[kestrel91316]

5. Santa Fe is the capital of NEW MEXICO, not Texas.

And FYI, New Mexico isn't a part of Mexico, it's a part of the United States. In case you weren't clear on that part, either.

[TexasTowelie]

7. I'm clear about the geography.

My statements were lamenting the fact that the government officials in Texas have said no to expanding Medicaid under the ACA provisions.

[TygrBright]

6. If they could just keep them, it wouldn't be so bad.

They keep trying to shove them off on the rest of us. Even the unsuccessful candidates like Texas Susie get shoved out to predate in someone else's territory.

We're just hoping she heads on back over the border after the next election.

wistfully,
Bright

[DhhD]

4. Texas will be losing a lot of its share of the Medicaid money to states like New Mexico. Texas

taxpayers will have to make up the difference later on.

[Voice for Peace]

8. yay, thanks to the great folks in NM