New Mexico to continue funding gender-affirming care for minors after federal cuts
Summary
New Mexico will keep paying for gender-affirming healthcare for minors using state money, even after a new federal rule ends Medicaid funding for these services. This move comes as the Trump administration’s rule takes effect on October 13, cutting federal support through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.Key Facts
- On August 13, the Trump administration finalized a rule to stop Medicaid and CHIP from funding gender-affirming care for minors, starting October 13.
- New Mexico’s Health Care Authority said they will use state funds to continue covering gender-affirming care.
- New Mexico created a Health Care Affordability Fund in 2021 to support healthcare when federal help is reduced.
- The state has the second-highest percentage of people on Medicaid or CHIP in the U.S., with 41.4% of residents enrolled.
- About 61% of children in New Mexico have health insurance through Medicaid or CHIP.
- New Mexico passed the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act in 2023 to protect transgender youth’s healthcare rights.
- An estimated 4,800 transgender teens aged 13 to 17 live in New Mexico.
- Other states like New Jersey are also acting to protect gender-affirming care with new laws.
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