Bill Would Require New Mexico to Assess Insurance Mandate

New Mexico must prepare a study on the feasibility of providing health coverage to employees of large home and community-based care agencies, according to a resolution introduced to the state senate.

If passed, the resolution would require the legislative finance committee to work with home care agencies, Medicaid managed care organizations, the New Mexico Association for Home & Hospice Care, and the state human services department. The study would be due by November 1.

The study would focus on the Affordable Care Act‘s mandate that all employers with more than 50 employees must offer them health insurance or pay a penalty.

It is “imperative that a solution be found to ensure that home- and community-based services agencies will be able to meet the mandate to provide health insurance coverage to their employees,” the resolution states.

The resolution was introduced by state senator Sue Wilson Beffort (R).

— by Matthew Ozga