Dow presses remaining insurers after Blue Cross commits to $10 million caregiver raises

SANTA FE — Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, is calling on New Mexico’s three remaining Medicaid managed care organizations to follow Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico’s lead after the insurer agreed to implement a $10 million rate increase lawmakers set aside this year for home care workers.

The Legislature appropriated the $10 million in other state funds this year to the Health Care Authority’s medical assistance program, directing the money “to provide an annual rate increase for personal care consumer-directed, personal care consumer-delegated and personal care self-directed services,” according to House Bill 2 budget language. Dow led the push to include the funding in the state budget.

KRQE reported this month that the $10 million was distributed to the state’s four managed care organizations — Blue Cross Blue Shield, Presbyterian, Molina Healthcare and UnitedHealthcare — but that at least two of the insurers had told providers they did not intend to pass the increase on to caregivers.

In a statement Tuesday, Dow said Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico has since confirmed it will implement a 5.8 percent rate increase outlined by the Health Care Authority and will reprocess applicable claims back to July 1.

“I appreciate Blue Cross Blue Shield for honoring the Legislature’s intent and ensuring these funds reach the caregivers they were meant to support,” Dow said. “Their decision demonstrates that these wage increases can and should be delivered.”

Dow said the other three managed care organizations have not publicly committed to the same increase.

“We appropriated this money for a specific purpose, not to disappear into the bureaucracy,” Dow said. “Caregivers, families, and taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability. Every Managed Care Organization should follow Blue Cross Blue Shield’s lead and ensure these dollars are used exactly as the Legislature intended.”

Dow is calling on the Health Care Authority and the remaining three managed care organizations to publicly explain how they will distribute the funding and to commit to the wage increases.