DEMING — New Mexico will expand access to mental health and substance use disorder services in 2026 with the addition of five new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, bringing services to six counties across the state. State officials say the move is designed to reduce long wait times and long travel distances that many New Mexicans currently face when seeking behavioral health care.
Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo said too many residents struggle to get timely care, often having to wait weeks or travel significant distances for services. She said the expansion is intended to meet people where they are and ensure comprehensive care is available when and where it is needed, adding that expanding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics will help remove long-standing barriers to care.
The New Mexico Health Care Authority, working in partnership with the Children, Youth and Families Department, continues to grow the state’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics program. Five agencies have been certified to begin offering services on January first of 2026, expanding coverage in Lea, Bernalillo, Doña Ana, Curry, Rio Arriba, and Santa Fe counties. These new clinics will join five others that received certification in 2025 and are already providing services in multiple areas of the state.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are required to provide twenty-four-hour access to mental health and substance use disorder services, along with primary care screening, regardless of a person’s insurance status or ability to pay. The clinics focus on coordinated and evidence-based care aimed at reducing barriers to treatment and improving outcomes for individuals and families.
The Health Care Authority will provide ongoing technical assistance and training to ensure clinics meet performance and quality standards. The expansion is supported through a four-year Medicaid demonstration program involving the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, allowing New Mexico to access additional federal funding to strengthen behavioral health services statewide.