Rural Health Care Delivery Fund
Awardees Announced By Governor

Hospital Services Corporation and NMHA Member Hospitals Among Awardees of Rural Health Care Delivery Fund Dollars Announced By Governor – A Total of $80 million granted to rural health care organizations

 

On Dec 12, 2023, NM Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the final recipients of funding through the $80 million Rural Health Care Delivery Fund created earlier this year. “The Rural Health Care Delivery Fund is making sure that no matter what part of New Mexico you call home, you have access to high quality and affordable health care,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham.

 

The newly released list of awardees includes a diverse range of healthcare services across New Mexico’s rural areas. Each selected organization is slated to receive funds aimed at expanding existing and creating new health care services. Included are three (3) NMHA members and Hospital Services Corporation, the wholly owned subsidiary company of NMHA well-known for providing business services to hospitals and innovating solutions that small hospitals may not be able to manage alone. All three organizations are focused on addressing specific unmet needs in rural areas. They are:

 

• CHRISTUS St. Vincent: Primary care, obstetrics, behavioral health, oncology, and orthopedics serving Mora, Guadalupe, and Harding.

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• Hospital Services Corporation & American Medical Response: Emergency behavioral health transportation in 28 rural counties.

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• Presbyterian Healthcare Services: Pediatric cardiology serving Chaves, Curry, Grant, and Taos Counties.

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• Nor-Lea Hospital District: Behavioral health services in Lea County.

 

The announcement comes on the heels of the initial distribution of $18 million to 11 rural health care organizations. That list also included NMHA member hospitals serving our rural areas.

 

• Covenant Health Hobbs: Expanding labor and delivery, pre-and post-natal care, and maternal health in Lea and Eddy Counties.

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• Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center: Restart in-person outpatient psychiatric services that ceased during the COVID-19 pandemic and expand inpatient behavioral health in Otero County.

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• Mimbres Memorial Hospital: Obstetrics and gynecology, surgical, labor and delivery, nursing home, emergency, and ICU serving Luna, and Hidalgo Counties.

 

“We’re excited to hear the announcement of the initial awardees from the fund and applaud the efforts of the governor and our legislature to continue to address the needs of improving access to healthcare through measures like the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund,” said Troy Clark, NMHA President & CEO, at the time. NMHA worked with a broad range of healthcare stakeholders and the Governor's Office in support of the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund during the 2023 legislative session.

 

Applications were open to qualified Medicaid providers who provide services including but not limited to primary care, behavioral health, maternal child health services, and specialty care.

Around the country, rural health providers encounter geographic isolation and financial strain, making access to critical health care services difficult. Gov. Lujan Grisham is committed to growing rural health care infrastructure and ensuring access to these essential services for all New Mexicans. To learn more about the New Mexico Rural Health Care Delivery Fund and the 2023 awardees, visit https://www.hsd.state.nm.us/primary-care-council/.

 

Photo caption:  Tammie Chavez, Frank Corcoran, Bo Beames, Troy Clark, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Christina Campos at the signing of Rural Health Care Delivery Fund legislation, April 7, 2023

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