At least $2,997 in Medicaid funds paid for COVID-19 services in Taos in 2024

At least $2,997 in Medicaid payments in Taos were made in 2024 for services billed under HCPCS codes explicitly identifying COVID-19, based on information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database.

Medicaid, a public health insurance program, is operated by the states and funded in partnership by federal and state governments. It provides coverage for low-income people, families, seniors, children, and those with disabilities, making it a core part of the nation’s health care system.

Because Medicaid is taxpayer funded, adjustments in local billing levels reflect how public health dollars are distributed in the area.

This analysis identifies COVID-19–specific services through HCPCS codes designated as “COVID-19” or “coronavirus”-related in billing details or reference material. As such, the data only includes services distinctly marked as COVID-related, and does not capture other pandemic-linked care that may fall under alternate or broader billing categories.

For comparison, Albuquerque had the highest Medicaid payments associated with COVID-19–related services in New Mexico for 2024, reporting $958,608 in such claims.

In Taos, three providers filed Medicaid claims for COVID-19 services in 2024. COVID-19 Vaccine Administration was the most frequently billed code, totaling $1,860.

To provide further context, the average Medicaid payment per provider for COVID-19–specific services in Taos reached $999, well below the $34,302 state average.

COVID-19–designated services drove a notable share of growth in Medicaid spending in Taos during the pandemic years.

From 2020 to 2024, overall Medicaid payments for all non-COVID claim categories rose by $3,443,680, a 19.2% increase.

In the two years before the pandemic, annual Medicaid payments in Taos averaged $14,676,887.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, federal and state Medicaid spending together reached about $871.7 billion in fiscal year 2023, accounting for around 18% of total U.S. health spending, a significant rise from roughly $613.5 billion in 2019, the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.

This growth marks an increase of about 40% in just a few years, primarily due to expanded enrollment and greater utilization during and after the pandemic.

Recently enacted federal budget measures under the Trump administration have included major proposals to decrease federal Medicaid funding and change the program. As an example, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law in 2025, is estimated to reduce federal Medicaid spending by more than $1 trillion over 10 years and adds policies such as work requirements and higher cost-sharing, which could decrease coverage and support for certain recipients. These adjustments are likely to place more financial responsibility on states and restrict future federal Medicaid growth, though the program will continue serving millions nationwide.

Note: Totals include HCPCS codes specifically designated for COVID-19 services; this does not capture all health care spending related to the pandemic.

The data for this report came from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid Provider Spending database. The original source is available here.