New Mexico to Fund Gender-Affirming Care for Minors as 41.4% Rely on Medicaid or CHIP
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 24
New Mexico to Fund Gender-Affirming Care for Minors as 41.4% Rely on Medicaid or CHIP
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 24
Summary
New Mexico said it will keep covering gender-affirming care for minors with state money after a federal rule ending Medicaid and CHIP funding takes effect on Oct. 13.
The Trump administration finalized that rule on Aug. 13, cutting federal support for treatments that can include puberty blockers, hormones, counseling and other services.
41.4% of New Mexico residents are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and 61% of children use one of those programs, making the federal change especially significant in the state.
New Mexico created a Health Care Affordability Fund in 2021 and has already used it to offset expiring ACA tax credits, part of a broader effort to preserve coverage when federal support shrinks.
The state has also positioned itself as a regional refuge for transgender youth since passing a 2023 shield law; UCLA's Williams Institute estimates 4,800 transgender teens live there.