As used in the Public Assistance Act:

1. A. "authority" or "department" means the health care authority;
2. B. "board" means the authority;
3. C. "director" means the secretary;
4. D. "local office" means the county or district office of the authority;
5. E. "medicaid advisory committee" means the body, established by federal law, that advises the New Mexico medicaid program on policy development and program administration;
6. F. "medicaid forward plan" means a health care coverage plan that leverages the medicaid program to provide a state-administered health care coverage option;
7. G. "public welfare" or "public assistance" means any aid or relief granted to or on behalf of an eligible person under the Public Assistance Act and rules issued pursuant to that act;
8. H. "applicant" means a person who has applied for assistance or services under the Public Assistance Act;
9. I. "recipient" means a person who is receiving assistance or services under the Public Assistance Act;
10. J. "federal act" means the federal Social Security Act, as may be amended from time to time, and regulations issued pursuant to that act; and
11. K. "secretary" means the secretary of health care authority.

History: 1953 Comp., § 13-17-2, enacted by Laws 1973, ch. 376, § 2; 1977, ch. 252, § 21; 1978 Comp., § 27-2-2; 1987, ch. 78, § 1; 1991, ch. 155, § 1; 2023, ch. 198, § 1; 2024, ch. 39, § 67.

ANNOTATIONS

Compiler's notes. — Laws 1937, ch. 18, § 1 enacted definitions for a public welfare act. Laws 1937, ch. 18, § 1 was repealed by Laws 1968, ch. 37, § 7. Laws 1968, ch. 37, § 2 enacted the health and social services department. Laws 1973, ch. 376, § 19 also repealed Laws 1937, ch. 18, § 1.

Cross references. — For the federal Social Security Act, see 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.

The 2024 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, substituted the human services department with the health care authority in the definitions of certain terms.

The 2023 amendment, effective June 16, 2023, defined "medicaid advisory" and "medicaid forward plan" as used in the Public Assistance Act; and added new Subsections E and F and redesignated former Subsections E through I as Subsections G through K, respectively.

The 1991 amendment, effective June 14, 1991, added "or services" following "assistance" in Subsections F and G.