SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- Gov. Susana Martinez's administration says a proposed revision of Medicaid will require only some eligible Native Americans to obtain health services through managed care organizations.
The Human Services Department said Tuesday the federal government has accepted parts of a planned overhaul of the program providing health care for a fourth of New Mexico's population.
Indians qualifying for Medicare and Medicaid or needing nursing home care will obtain health services through managed care organizations. Other Indians will continue having an option of managed care or a fee-for-service system.
The state initially proposed requiring managed care for all eligible Native Americans, but tribal leaders said that could limit access to medical providers for Indians in remote areas.
The Medicaid overhaul, if fully approved by the federal government, will be implemented in 2014.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/nm-alters-medicaid-proposal-native-144205379.html