We shared documents last month indicating that a federal agency believed the number of New Mexicans receiving behavioral health services dropped 23 percent after last year’s Medicaid freeze led to a chaotic transition for patients.
Now that same agency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has clarified and essentially reversed its position: It states in an April 3 letter that there was as 23 percent drop in one geographic region of the state but an overall increase of 16 percent statewide.
CMS didn’t identify the geographic region where there was a decrease in the number of people receiving services.
The Albuquerque Journal was first to report on CMS’ shift today.