HMS: Rural Health Fund Strengthens Access, Expands Services in Grant, Hidalgo

Hidalgo Medical Services said New Mexico’s Rural Health Care Delivery Fund has bolstered care across Grant and Hidalgo counties by funding mobile units, transportation and expanded behavioral health services. In a Jan. 28 update, HMS highlighted investments that the organization says reduce travel burdens and bring specialty services into local communities.

The funding follows a 2024 legislative allocation of $46 million for rural health. HMS is one of 26 rural providers included in a combined $40.6 million distribution, and HMS received nearly $1.38 million in state funding to support the purchase of two mobile units — one for primary care and one for oral health care — to be deployed to rural communities and school systems in both Hidalgo and Grant counties. Last fall, $5.4 million in state funding went to four rural organizations that could implement services immediately.

HMS officials described tangible impact on neuropsychological care. Previously, HMS referred patients to distant specialists, with some journeys requiring over four hours of travel and waitlists up to a year. HMS said expanding in-house neuropsychological testing has reduced wait times to just a few weeks and allows patients to “receive evaluation and care within their local community.” HMS added that the Rural Health Care Delivery Funds are supporting continued access to specialized neuropsychological testing for patients throughout Hidalgo, Grant, and surrounding counties.

The new dollars are also earmarked for a mobile crisis response start-up and broader patient transportation work. An HMS spokeswoman said, “Additionally, these funds will assist in ensuring access to neuropsychological testing, support the start-up of a mobile crisis response team and the development of transportation services for health care access in both counties.” HMS has already posted a site headline noting it “Launches New Patient Transportation Services in Hidalgo and Grant Counties.”

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham framed the investment as part of a statewide effort to reduce access gaps. “Every New Mexican deserves access to quality health care close to home,” she said in a news release. “My administration is committed to supporting and strengthening the health care provider network. By reducing financial barriers for rural providers, this fund will expand access to care and positively impact the health of New Mexicans.”

HMS CEO Dan Otero framed the award as community investment. “The recent funding received by Hidalgo Medical Services is a testament to our collective dedication to improving community health,” he said. “This significant investment will enable us to enhance our services and provide better care and access to those in need.” Grantcountybeat summarized HMS’s gratitude: “HMS remains deeply grateful for the continued support from the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund, the statewide commitment to expanding critical rural health services. The funding empowers HMS to advance its mission and to continue strengthening healthcare infrastructure in partnership with state leadership and community stakeholders.”

Hidalgo Medical Services, founded in 1995 in Lordsburg, operates as a Federally Qualified Health Center with 13 clinical sites and 9 non-clinical sites, serving more than 16,000 people annually. The agency says these investments address long-standing social, geographic and economic barriers in a region described by pediatrician Brian Etheridge as “Big city issues with small town resources.” For Grant and Hidalgo residents, the new mobile clinics, reduced wait times for neuropsych testing and added transportation and crisis response capacity mean more care delivered closer to home; HMS says the moves should translate into faster diagnoses, better care planning and improved outcomes as providers roll out the units and programs in the coming months.