N.M. Delegation Calls on Trump Administration to Support State’s Application for Federal Rural Health Transformation Program Funding

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz in support of New Mexico's Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program application. The RHT program was established following the passage of the Republican Budget Betrayal, which is estimated to cut $137 billion in funding for rural hospitals across the country.

In their letter, the New Mexico delegation stresses the urgent need for federal support to meet New Mexico's rural health needs. Following cuts made to rural health care in the Republican Budget Betrayal, 6 to 8 rural hospitals are at risk of closure in New Mexico in the next 18 months, with a potential of up to 15 closures.

"We write to express our enthusiastic support for New Mexico's Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program application. As members of New Mexico's congressional delegation, we are proud to endorse our state's ambitious plan to improve health care access, quality, and sustainability across New Mexico's rural, frontier, and Tribal communities," said the lawmakers.

"New Mexico's geography and demographics present unique challenges that our RHT program application will help us to address. Nearly one-third of our residents live in rural areas, and many face long travel distances to receive health care services and have limited provider availability in their immediate communities," continued the lawmakers.

"Our state's rural health transformation plan is also actionable, designed to deliver both immediate and long-term benefits to our rural providers and community members," concluded the lawmakers.

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Administrator Oz,

We write to express our enthusiastic support for New Mexico's Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program application. As members of New Mexico's congressional delegation, we are proud to endorse our state's ambitious plan to improve health care access, quality, and sustainability across New Mexico's rural, frontier, and Tribal communities.

New Mexico's geography and demographics present unique challenges that our RHT program application will help us to address. Nearly one-third of our residents live in rural areas, and many face long travel distances to receive health care services and have limited provider availability in their immediate communities. Our rural community members often face persistent health challenges, especially chronic disease management. Additionally, although our provider community is both strong and resilient, many rural providers are facing ongoing challenges to maintain viability and their ability to deliver highly necessary services. The transformation plan defined in our state's RHT Program application offers a bold and thoughtful response to these challenges, built on suggestions received through community engagement and aligned with our state's most pressing rural health care needs.

The plan's five initiatives (Healthy Horizons, Rooted in New Mexico, the Rural Health Innovation Fund, Bridge to Resilience, and the Rural Health Data Hub) reflect a comprehensive strategy to enhance and modernize rural health care across New Mexico. These initiatives will help our state expand specialty care access, strengthen chronic disease management, build a sustainable health care workforce, support community-led and community-tailored innovation, stabilize and support rural providers, and improve data transparency and infrastructure. We are especially encouraged by the plan's commitment to keeping care close to home and respecting the sovereignty and cultural priorities of New Mexico's 23 tribal nations, pueblos, and sovereign communities.

Our state's rural health transformation plan is also actionable, designed to deliver both immediate and long-term benefits to our rural providers and community members. The plan includes clear performance metrics, robust ongoing stakeholder engagement, and a sustainability plan that will help promote impact beyond the five-year funding period. By improving access to care, investing in community-designed and led solutions, empowering rural communities, and helping to stabilize our rural health care providers, New Mexico will set a national example for how to effectively use rural health transformation funding in a way that will help every rural resident, regardless of their zip code, to access the care they need to live healthy, full lives.

We urge CMS to approve and support this application. We are thankful for Governor Lujan Grisham's leadership in preparing this transformation plan and look forward to its successful implementation. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued commitment to improving health and health care access across rural America. ###