Expanding New Mexico’s Medicaid coverage for weight-loss drugs could help reduce obesity-related health disparities among Hispanic, Native American, and low-income residents, the National Health and Hispanic advocacy groups said.
The advocacy groups are asking New Mexico to broaden Medicaid coverage for weight-loss medications, saying stricter access rules could leave communities already facing higher rates of obesity and related diseases without treatment.
In a letter sent Oct. 1 to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, leaders from five national Hispanic and health organizations urged the state to set aside funding to expand access to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, commonly known as GLP-1 drugs.
The organizations include the National Hispanic Health Foundation, National Hispanic Council on Aging, League of United Latin American Citizens, American Diabetes Association, and MANA, a National Latina Organization.
The request comes as obesity rates in New Mexico continue to rise and health disparities persist among Hispanic and Native American residents, rural communities, and lower-income households. State Department of Health data show the percentage of New Mexicans with obesity increased from 26% in 2013 to 35% in 2023. Obesity can increase the risk of chronic conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Advocates argue that expanding access to medications could help address those risks, particularly for people who face financial and other barriers to treatment.
“GLP-1s have proven to be among the most effective treatments for obesity ever seen,” the organizations wrote in their letter. They said the medications could help prevent complications that lead to higher health care costs over time.
More than individual choices influence obesity rates, health experts say. Income, access to nutritious food, health literacy and opportunities for physical activity can all affect a person’s risk.
New Mexico’s Medicaid program, which covers about two in five residents, already pays for some weight-management medications. However, existing rules require patients to have a body mass index above 40 to qualify for obesity treatment, according to the state Health Care Authority.
Medicaid also covers Ozempic for certain approved medical conditions, including Type 2 diabetes. Although the drug is widely associated with weight loss, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved Ozempic specifically to treat obesity.
The cost of these medications is also becoming a growing concern for the state. New Mexico Medicaid spent $38.7 million on Ozempic in 2025, more than a 34% increase from 2024 and more than double its 2023 spending, according to previously reported figures.
The organizations are urging the state to consider broader coverage as agencies develop budgets for fiscal year 2028. They want action before a new governor takes office in 2027.
However, expanding the coverage could be difficult as New Mexico prepares for federal Medicaid changes under the 2025 reconciliation law, which is expected to put additional pressure on state health care spending.
Despite those financial challenges, advocates say access to obesity treatment should be part of the state’s effort to reduce health disparities and prevent chronic disease.
The groups said they want New Mexico to build on its existing health coverage efforts by ensuring that communities disproportionately affected by obesity can access treatments that may improve long-term health.
