Thirty-two rural health care organizations in New Mexico will receive a total of $20 million from the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to expand primary care services across the state. The awards, for fiscal year 2026, are intended to strengthen local health care capacity and improve access to coordinated care in underserved areas, including tribal communities in Cibola County and frontier clinics in Catron County.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham commented on the initiative: “We created this fund because rural health care providers were struggling to keep their doors open, let alone expand. These awards will help meet a pressing need for care in rural communities that have gone too long without adequate services.”
The Rural Health Care Delivery Fund was established by the New Mexico Legislature in 2023. Its purpose is to help rural providers offset operating losses and cover start-up costs for new or expanded services. This funding cycle prioritized primary care projects from Medicaid-enrolled providers that address documented community needs in underserved regions. Specific grant amounts are still being finalized.
Recipients of the funding include organizations located throughout northwestern, northeastern, southwestern, and southeastern New Mexico. Examples include Cañoncito Band of Navajo Health Center (To’hajillee), CHRISTUS St. Vincent, Cibola General Hospital, El Centro Family Health, Fort Bayard Medical Center, Artesia General Hospital, Ben Archer Health Center, and Nor-Lea Hospital District.
The New Mexico State Executive operates as a governmental body focused on state administration and prioritizes efforts in education, economic advancement and community sustainability according to its official website. The office promotes public service careers and offers programs such as early childhood education initiatives and infrastructure tracking. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham leads the executive branch with support from Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales and cabinet secretaries for health and education.
For more information about the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund, visit hca.nm.gov/primary-care-council.