Congress of the United States ‘Washington, DE 20515 March 24, 2017 ‘The Honorable Susena Martinez +490 Old Santa Fe Trail Room 400 Santa Fe, NM 87501 Dear Governor Martine: ‘As Republicans in Congress move to repeal the Affordable Care Act, we write to express our concern about the impact of ther plan on our stale and implore you to protect New Mexicans by fighting against this destructive proposal ‘As you know, the Affordable Care Act gave states the option to expand Medicaid coverage to individuals with incomes of up to 138% of the federal poverty line and provided significant federal funding to finance such an expansion. As a result of Medicaid expansion in New Mexico, an addtional 263,000 New Mexicans have access to health coverage. Enrollment among previously eligible individuals bas also increased over the lst few years, bringing total enrollment to more than 900,000- almost half of our state’s population. This has helped cut our uninsured rat to historic low of 8.9%, ‘The Medicaid program is also an economic engine for New Mexico. The federal government provides $4.6 billion per year in federal matching funds for the program, $1.5 billion of which is associated with the Medicaid expansion. Given that the total state budget is about $6.1 billion, this is a massive ‘investment in New Mexicans. This infusion of federal funds supports our healthcare infrastructure, reducing uncompensated care and keeping rural hospitals afloat. It also supports more then $0,000 jobs inthe state, Asa result, the health care sector has been a rae bright spot in our economy, adding 6,100 {jobs inthe past year in state with the highest unemployment rate in the nation, Moody's has indicated ‘that this bill will prove to bea credit negative to states and a huge financial burden that will force states ‘to make difficult decisions about how to finance their Medicaid programs. ‘Republicans in Congress have introduced the American Health Care Act, which would repeal the ‘expansion and institute per eapita eaps or block grants to limit federal funds for other enrollees totaling $880 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next ten yeas. Recent estimates indicate that New Mexico stands o lose more than $11 billion in federal funds over that same period. ‘This proposal will ask states to do less with less, inevitably leading to coverage losses and reduced benefits for Medicaid beneficiaries. In fact, the Center for American Progress conservatively estimates that 108,000 New Mexicans would lose Medicaid coverage ifthe American Health Care Actis signed into law. We understand that you have been supportive of efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, ‘but this bill also makes significant changes tothe Medicaid program by limiting federal funding in the form of per capita caps for the entre program that have nothing to do with the Affordable Care Act‘Governors in other state that have expanded Medicaid have recognized the negative impact such a proposal would have on their constituents, and have been outspoken in their opposition. The time for ‘you to jin them to express your concems about how this bill will hurt New Mexico is now. We ask that you help us stop this bil so that we can start our workin earnest and ona bipartisan bass to ‘improve healtheare in New Mexico, not decimate it [New Mexicans have benefited significantly from the Affordable Care Act, and ae looking to you to speak up about the impacts ofthis bill onthe state and what it will mean for their families and ‘communities. Our economy and the lives of New Mexicans are at stake. We look forward to your reply. Sine Son Ohare Tena ——— Naas Ute Stes Senor Ute Stes Sesto Lj Gr Benker Berk Ae Mit flange Manele