The University of New Mexico's College of Population Health established the Center for Health Policy in 2020 to offer policy consultation to the Division of Medical Assistance (or NM Medicaid) in the New Mexico Human Services Department. Medicaid is a federal-state program that provides health coverage to eligible adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. In New Mexico, Medicaid covers 873K+ people or 41% of the state’s population. Federal participation in Medicaid varies by the mean income in a state. In New Mexico, $73 of every Medicaid dollar is paid by the Federal government. The Center's layout adheres to a tried-and-true model that has been used by 27 other universities in the US to advise Medicaid agencies on health policy. Overall, Medicaid pays more to doctors than any other insurance source including private insurance.
The Center is staffed by university faculty, mostly from the College of Population Health, but also including faculty from Pharmacy and the College of Arts and Sciences. The Center is directed by Dr. Bob Frank, a professor in the College of Population Health.
Projects:
The Center currently has four main projects:
1. Health Care Access Survey
A one-month randomized, stratified survey in May 2023 concluded that the majority of residents support using Medicaid dollars to address some of the biggest social issues facing the state, including: early childhood services, homelessness, domestic violence, and economic development through job training opportunities.
2. Preferred Drug List
With only one pharmacist on staff, Medicaid needed help creating a preferred drug list to assure the best drug benefit at the best prices. The Center tapped into resources at the College of Pharmacy, asking Associate Dean Melanie Dodd and Professor Melissa Roberts, who has extensive experience in the drug industry, to work on the project.
3. Social Determinants of Health
Working with Shannon Sanchez-Youngman, PhD, the Center looks at how social determinants may influence medical service utilization and outcomes. Social determinants of health include external factors that impact health. For example, they could impact access to grocery stores, public transportation or quality housing. This can help to identify key factors that may be addressed to prevent reoccurring problems.
4. Parent Training
Many parents who seek medical attention for their kids have problems that may be handled at home, according to research. These parents were scheduled for home visits. Dr. Shannon Sanchez-Youngman's goal is to evaluate the home visiting models that are currently being used in New Mexico and to weigh the prospects for other models in light of the particular difficulties that New Mexico faces.
I am thrilled to be working at the Center for Health Policy, where I have the opportunity to engage in policy and research – two areas that I am truly passionate about. My role involves identifying critical challenges and opportunities and providing essential support to principal investigators to ensure the successful completion of their projects. I take great pride in contributing to the Center's goal of supporting HSD in improving public health outcomes for New Mexicans, and I am committed to making a positive impact in the field of health policy.
For the Center for Health Policy's work phase two plan, further initiatives have already been identified. These initiatives were chosen when Dr. Alanna Dancis was chosen as the Medicaid Medical Director. Her collaboration with the Center for Health Policy has led to the consideration of a number of new projects, generally labeled Phase II Projects.
1. Behavioral Health Core project
The objective of this Phase II project is to develop the capability to eventually have a data warehouse where data from all state agencies providing behavioral health services may be kept and integrated to let state departments know the range and quality of services an individual has received. Policy briefs on various facets of behavioral health in New Mexico, including how it interacts with the criminal justice system, are being developed as a short-term objective.
2. Maternity Care or Obstetric (O.B.) Deserts
A second project that is part of Phase II, but has been pushed forward because it is some a severe issue for New Mexico examines OB Deserts. Many women in New Mexico lack access to obstetric care. They may be forced to drive many miles for care and not be able to get care in an emergency. This project looks at how other states have addressed this problem and what might be done in New Mexico. Dr. Shannon Sanchez Youngman is also leading this project.
Amber Dukes, PhD, MPH
Sr. Program Manager
505 277-4121
Robert Frank, MD
Center for Health Policy Director