New Mexico seeks co-pays from Medicaid patients

New Mexico is pursuing federal authority to charge medical co-payments and some other costs to patients enrolled in Medicaid health care for the poor and disabled.

Human Service Secretary Brent Earnest briefed state lawmakers Wednesday on efforts to institute “nominal” co-payments as an incentive to steer patients away from wasteful expenses, such as the use of emergency room services for routine care.

Earnest said the agency has not yet established co-payment prices for medical services and certain prescription drugs, or determined how much money the state might save over time.

Federal rules limit cost-sharing on Medicaid to patients who are not in extreme poverty.

The state wants to exempt children, pregnant women and Native Americans.