The state of New Mexico has announced that $46 million has been set aside to help support healthcare in New Mexico’s rural areas.
Local healthcare providers are welcome to apply for part of this funding, which has been made available through the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund. A webinar has been scheduled Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 3-4 p.m. to help those interested in the application process.
According to the state’s Health Care Authority website, the request for applications document and the application site will be posted on Wednesday.
Hosted by the state, the webinar, titled “FY25-27 Rural Health Care Delivery Fund: Overview and Application Guidance,” is designed to give detailed information on how to apply for funds, according to a press release from the office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
“This funding reinforces the state’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to high-quality health care in rural communities, ensuring that all New Mexicans, regardless of where they live, have access to critical health services,” the press release states.
The $46 million follows up on an initial $80 million that was made available for rural healthcare providers last year. Previous Rural Health Care Delivery awardees in the area include the Mora County Ambulance Service, behavioral health and substance use services in San Miguel County; primary care obstetrics, behavioral health, oncology and orthopedics serving Mora County; and Krossroads Integrative Health and Recovery Solutions, Inc., which provides behavioral health and substance use services in various counties in New Mexico, including San Miguel and Mora.
“So now this second round, we hope, continues along that same pathway of healthcare agencies being funded to do these expansion projects,” said Matthew Probst, director of rural community engagement for the University of New Mexico Office of Community Health.
The press release from the governor’s office states that the first round of funding “provided crucial support to rural health care providers across the state, helping to offset operational costs and expand services.”
“This new round of funding will continue this progress, further strengthening primary care, behavioral health, and maternal child health initiatives, improving health outcomes and increasing access to care in some of the most underserved areas of New Mexico,” the press release states.
Probst, an appointed member to the New Mexico Primary Care Council, a group that advocates for the health of the state’s residents, expressed a desire for various agencies to apply for funds.
“We want to make sure that folks know of this wonderful opportunity to expand services,” Probst said.
For more information about the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund and a link to Wednesday’s webinar, visit hca.nm.gov/primary-care-council/.
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