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New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department seeks $1M to reactivate key division • Source New Mexico

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New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department seeks M to reactivate key division • Source New Mexico


A 2025 budget proposal aims to revive a division of state government aimed at providing community-based and caregiver-based services to New Mexicans who fall just outside of Medicaid eligibility.

In the Aging and Long-Term Services Department’s roughly $5.7 million budget request for next year, $1 million is intended to staff its Long-Term Care Division, which has been inactive.

According to an Aging and Long-Term Services Department spokesperson, the Long-Term Care Division became inactive after the Medicaid waiver programs, which it used to manage, were moved to the state’s Department of Health. The programs – which include living care arrangements, disability assistance and other services – were moved again recently under the Health Care Authority.

Joey Long, public information officer for the department, said they did not have specific dates for the division’s dormancy.

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In a presentation to lawmakers during a recent Legislative Finance Committee meeting, Aging and Long-Term Services Department Secretary-designee Emily Kaltenbach said the department also anticipates moving Adult Protective Services – including eight care transition specialists, the Veterans Service Program and New MexiCare program  – under the Long-Term Care Division. The Alzheimer’s and Dementia program would also be housed within the division.

New MexiCare in particular has a goal of offering training and financial help to caregivers, who in turn help older New Mexicans age in place rather than in a nursing home. The program is offered in all counties except Bernalillo and Doña Ana, but Long said the department wants to open the program fully statewide by July 2025.

“This will allow us to really create a continuum of care from prevention to intervention to long-term care services and supports,” Kaltenbach said.”That would make us whole.”

The rest of the department’s budget request includes funding for five full-time ombudsman, Aging and Disability Resource Center staff, contractual services to support the call center and support for the department’s volunteer program. 

Kaltenbach said the call center receives about 200 calls per day and had an additional 6,000 calls come in between Fiscal Year 2023 and 2024.

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“The call center is really the entry point into our department,” Kaltenbach said.

The remaining funds are for special budget requests including emergency preparedness, marketing, information technology updates and the Kiki Saavedra Senior Dignity Fund. The honorary fund provides such services as transportation, access to food, physical and behavioral health services and case management.

The department’s roughly $5.7 million budget request is an 8% increase from the previous year. Kaltenbach pointed out that the department’s request is in keeping with the growing aging population in New Mexico, which is projected to have the fourth highest percentage of older adults among the states by 2030.

“I think it’s really interesting to see and not surprising that the highest percentage of older adults are living in our most rural and frontier counties,” Kaltenbach said. “We have more work to do and our budget reflects this need. 2030 is only five years away.”

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New Mexico

NM Gameday: Jan. 3

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NM Gameday: Jan. 3


Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KOB via our online form
or call 505-243-4411.

This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
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New Mexico

Cook scores 25, New Mexico State beats Sam Houston 75-71

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Cook scores 25, New Mexico State beats Sam Houston 75-71


LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Christian Cook scored 25 points as New Mexico State beat Sam Houston 75-71 on Thursday night.

Cook shot 8 of 19 from the field, including 2 for 7 from 3-point range, and went 7 for 8 from the free-throw line for the Aggies (8-6, 1-0 Conference USA). Peter Filipovity scored 20 points and added seven rebounds. Dionte Bostick shot 3 of 5 from the field and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with nine points.

The Bearkats (7-7, 0-1) were led in scoring by Kalifa Sakho, who finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks. Cameron Huefner added 15 points for Sam Houston. Lamar Wilkerson also had 14 points.

New Mexico State went into the half ahead of Sam Houston 38-30. Cook put up 12 points in the half. Filipovity’s free throw with 2:29 left in the second half gave New Mexico State the lead for good at 65-64.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.



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Kaiser leads New Mexico State against Louisiana Tech after 29-point game

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Kaiser leads New Mexico State against Louisiana Tech after 29-point game


Associated Press

New Mexico State Aggies (8-6, 1-0 CUSA) at Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (8-4, 1-0 CUSA)

Ruston, Louisiana; Saturday, 3 p.m. EST

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BOTTOM LINE: New Mexico State visits Louisiana Tech after Molly Kaiser scored 29 points in New Mexico State’s 79-61 victory against the Sam Houston Bearkats.

The Lady Techsters are 7-1 in home games. Louisiana Tech is fifth in the CUSA at limiting opponent scoring, allowing 61.4 points while holding opponents to 39.2% shooting.

The Aggies are 1-0 in conference games. New Mexico State is eighth in the CUSA with 12.4 assists per game led by Fanta Gassama averaging 2.8.

Louisiana Tech scores 67.2 points per game, 1.7 more points than the 65.5 New Mexico State gives up. New Mexico State averages 5.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 more makes per game than Louisiana Tech allows.

The Lady Techsters and Aggies meet Saturday for the first time in CUSA play this season.

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TOP PERFORMERS: Paris Bradley is averaging 9.7 points for the Lady Techsters.

Kaiser is shooting 48.6% from beyond the arc with 1.3 made 3-pointers per game for the Aggies, while averaging 20.9 points and 1.9 steals.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lady Techsters: 6-4, averaging 67.5 points, 35.5 rebounds, 12.6 assists, 8.4 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 41.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 61.6 points per game.

Aggies: 5-5, averaging 64.0 points, 24.1 rebounds, 12.2 assists, 8.8 steals and 1.0 block per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.9 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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