In New Mexico, under Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration, Abortion Free New Mexico has been seeking transparency regarding taxpayer-funded abortions through the state Medicaid program. Limited information has surfaced from the New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA), raising concerns about public trust.
1. IPRA Request:
Tara Shaver from Abortion Free New Mexico filed an Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) request on February 6, 2025. This request sought detailed data about abortion funding from New Mexico Medicaid over the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, including amounts paid, types of procedures, the medical providers involved, and gestational ages of the fetuses.
2. Response from HCA:
The HCA's initial response was unsatisfactory, providing only incomplete information. It eventually revealed that over $3.7 million had been paid for abortions through Medicaid from 2022 to 2024. Still, many key details remained undisclosed.
3. Contradictory Information:
Despite stating that Medicaid doesn’t fund abortions, the HCA provided conflicting financial figures for the abortion funding, which has led to frustration among advocates for transparency.
4. Tara Shaver's Statement:
Shaver criticized the lack of transparency from the HCA and questioned why the state was unwilling to release comprehensive abortion data, suggesting it might indicate an awareness of the moral implications of abortion.
5. Legal Context:
New Mexico is one of 19 states that use state funds for elective abortions, based on a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling. The ruling mandates that Medicaid must cover all medically necessary abortions, citing equal rights under the state constitution.
6. Financial Breakdown:
The cost of abortions varies significantly, with a first-trimester procedure costing around $600 and later procedures, such as a 32-week abortion, costing up to $17,500.
7. Legislative Developments:
New Mexico legislators have introduced numerous bills to limit access to abortion-related data, including a recent law (SB57) that conceals the identities of abortion providers working with public bodies.
The investigation into New Mexico's Medicaid funding for abortions highlights significant concerns about governmental transparency. Advocates argue that citizens deserve to know how their tax dollars are being used, and every life, both born and unborn, should be protected under the law.
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