Behavioral Health Assessment and Feasibility Study
The New Mexico Legislature appropriated funding for a comprehensive Behavioral Health Assessment and Feasibility Study during its 2025 session. The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) contracted with Manatt Health Strategies, LLC and its partners, Milliman and Kauffman and Associates, Inc., to conduct the study, which examined strengths and gaps in New Mexico’s current behavioral health landscape and identified opportunities to strengthen Medicaid and state-funded services and supports for New Mexicans with serious mental illness (SMI), severe emotional disturbance (SED), substance use disorders, and/or brain injuries. As directed by the legislature, the study examined the “merits, feasibility, costs and likely enrollment in a proposed new Medicaid waiver for people with serious mental illness or substance dependency leading to regular confinement in county jails or intensive overuse of hospital emergency rooms or other emergency or crisis services,” as part of a broader examination of the strengths and gaps in New Mexico’s behavioral health system.
The study has been completed and finalized materials are below.
- Final Report
- Stakeholder Summary
- Provider and Stakeholder Listening Session on 12/9/2025:
- Individual, Family Member and Caregiver Listening Session on 12/10/2025:
- Tribal Partner Listening Session on 12/11/2025: