New
Mexico Register / Volume XXXIII, Issue 13 / July 12, 2022
NOTICE
OF RULEMAKING
The
Human Services Department (the Department), through the Medical Assistance
Division (MAD), is proposing to amend the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC)
rule 8.200.400, Medicaid Eligibility-General Recipient Rules, 8.249.400,
Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) Program-Recipient Requirements, and 8.249.600,
Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) Program-Benefit Description.
Section 9-8-6 NMSA 1978, authorizes
the Department Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations that may be
necessary to carry out the duties of the Department and its divisions.
Notice Date: July 26, 2022
Hearing Date: August 26, 2022
Adoption Date: Proposed as January 1, 2023
Technical Citations: Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-DCL
22-12 Expansion of RMA Eligibility Period
The Department is proposing to amend the rules
as follows:
Background
The Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
issued guidance that expands the Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) eligibility
period from eight months to 12 months for ORR-eligible populations whose date
of eligibility for ORR benefits is on or after October 1, 2021. Historically the RMA eligibility period has
been eight months since federal fiscal year 1992 due to insufficient
appropriations.
Other minor changes were made to these rules to
replace outdated terms and correct wording errors.
8.200.400 NMAC
Section 10 has been updated to change the RMA
coverage period from eight to 12-months.
8.249.400 NMAC
Section 6 and 9 were updated to change the text from
eight to 12-months.
8.249.600 NMAC
Sections 9, 11, 12, 14, and 15 were updated to
change the text from eight to 12-months.
The register for these proposed amendments
to these rules will be available July 26, 2022 on the
HSD web site at https://www.hsd.state.nm.us/lookingforinformation/registers/
and https://www.hsd.state.nm.us/public-information-and-communications/opportunity-for-public-comment/public-notices-proposed-waiver-changes-and-opportunities-to-comment/comment-period-open/. If you do not have internet access, a copy of
the proposed register and rule may be requested by contacting MAD at (505)
827-1337.
The Department proposes to implement these
rules effective January 1, 2023. A
public hearing to receive testimony on these proposed rules will be held via
conference call on Friday, August 26, 2022, at 9 a.m. Mountain
Time (MT). Conference phone
number: 1-800-747-5150. Access Code:
2284263.
Interested
parties may submit written comments directly to: Human Services Department, Office of the
Secretary, ATT: Medical Assistance Division Public Comments, P.O. Box 2348,
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-2348.
Recorded
comments may be left at (505) 827-1337. Interested persons may also address comments
via electronic mail to: madrules@state.nm.us. Written mail, electronic mail and recorded
comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. MT on August 26, 2022. Written and recorded comments will be given
the same consideration as oral testimony made at the public hearing. All written comments received will be posted
as they are received on the HSD website at https://www.hsd.state.nm.us/public-information-and-communications/opportunity-for-public-comment/public-notices-proposed-waiver-changes-and-opportunities-to-comment/comment-period-open/
along with the applicable register and rule.
The public posting will include the name and any contact information
provided by the commenter.
If
you are a person with a disability and you require this information in an
alternative format or require a special accommodation to participate in the
public hearing, please contact MAD in Santa Fe at 505-827-1337. The Department requests at least ten (10)
days advance notice to provide requested alternative formats and special
accommodations.
Copies
of all comments will be made available by the MAD upon request by providing
copies directly to a requestor or by making them available on the MAD website
or at a location within the county of the requestor.