HB 70 New Mexico House · 2025 Regular Session

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MEDICAID WAIVER ACT

HB 70, the "Behavioral Health Medicaid Waiver Act," aims to create a new Medicaid waiver program in New Mexico for residents with behavioral health disabilities, including serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and brain injuries. The bill requires the Health Care Authority to develop and submit a federal application for this waiver by December 2025, using $1.1 million in state funds to hire staff and retain consultants. It mandates the authority to coordinate services through individualized plans, establish advisory councils, and align reimbursement systems with existing home- and community-based waiver programs. The bill does not change current Medicaid coverage but seeks to expand access to community-based behavioral health services. Note: This bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and did not advance to law.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 9, 2025 Last action Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → AF substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from an introduced version to a House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute version. The most significant change is the renaming of 'behavioral health disability' to 'behavioral health condition' in the definitions section, which broadens the scope to include individuals with conditions that may not yet meet disability criteria. The substitute version also reorganizes the structure of the bill, adds new definitions for 'eligible person' and 'substance use disorder', and modifies the timeline for implementing the Medicaid waiver program.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened by changing terminology from 'behavioral health disability' to 'behavioral health condition', potentially expanding eligibility to individuals who have behavioral health needs but may not yet qualify for disability benefits.

DEFINITION

Changed the term 'behavioral health disability' to 'behavioral health condition' in the definitions section, which may expand the population covered by the bill.

Added a new definition for 'eligible person' to clarify who qualifies for support and services under the program.

Added a new definition for 'substance use disorder' with specific criteria based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

TIMELINE

Modified the timeline for the Medicaid waiver program application, specifying that monthly meetings should begin in July 2025 and continue until the application is submitted, with the application due no later than July 1, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

Added a provision allowing the health care authority to retain a consulting entity to assist in developing the Medicaid waiver program application.

STRUCTURE

Reorganized the bill structure and formatting, with the substitute version presenting a more streamlined layout compared to the introduced version.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Health & Human Services Committee & House Appropriations & Finance Committee

lower

Jan 9, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Pre-file

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors