NM revises Medicaid overhaul plan

SANTA FE (AP) - Gov. Susana Martinez's administration is seeking federal approval for a revised plan to overhaul a program providing health care for a fourth of New Mexico's population.

The Human Services Department forwarded its Medicaid proposal to the federal government on Friday, nearly six months after initially unveiling a blueprint to improve health care for needy New Mexicans while slowing the growth rate of a program costing nearly $4 billion a year.

The state hopes to implement the Medicaid overhaul in January 2014.

Human Services Secretary Sidonie Squier said no enrollment cuts are proposed and there's no reduction in rates paid to health care providers.

The plan requires Native Americans to obtain Medicaid services through managed care organizations, but the department says it's tried to address tribal concerns about access to providers.