Governor Susana Martinez's administration and American Indian officials are at odds on a proposal to redesign Medicaid. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that both sides sparred Monday over how thoroughly the state consulted with New Mexico's 22 Indian tribes on possible changes.
One criticism of the proposal tribal officials raised is that the state would discontinue the payment of medical bills in the three months prior to an individual's enrollment in Medicaid, as is currently done.
Tribal officials also said the plan doesn't recognize how difficult it is to deliver care on rural reservations, pueblos or tribal lands.
But the Martinez administration says the program is unsustainable without changes, which is why it wants the federal government to give it extra flexibility in administering Medicaid.