Board of Directors Say Transition Will Better Serve New Mexicans

Albuquerque, NM (May 23, 2019) – The beWellnm Board of Directors voted unanimously to award to hCentive, a healthcare technology and services company, the contract to transition the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange from a federal technology platform to a State-Based Marketplace.

“The move to a state-based marketplace will enable us to better serve the residents in New Mexico and allow us to collect data that’s necessary to better care for our patients and make sure that we are providing the right services that they need,” board chairman David Shaw said.

Jeffery Bustamante, Interim Chief Executive Officer of  New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange, outlined the advantages of transitioning to a state-based marketplace and the competitive bid process at the May 17 meeting at the CNM Workforce Training Center.

“A state-run marketplace provides beWellnm with substantial benefits and flexibility in our role of helping New Mexicans find affordable access to healthcare, including the ability to dictate our own open enrollment timeframe,” said Bustamante. “When there is a longer enrollment period, we expect more New Mexicans would enroll in health insurance.”

With the move to a state-based marketplace, beWellnm anticipates an improved customer interface experience, more agent and broker support and better access to data—all of which focus on our mission of access to affordable healthcare, Bustamante said.

During previous meetings, Board members have praised the importance and timeliness of access to key membership and enrollment data from a state-based marketplace that can help beWellnm better tailor its offerings to the needs of New Mexicans.

The anticipated launch for the state-based marketplace is expected to be for plan year 2022, Shaw said.

The Board’s vote authorizes Bustamante to negotiate with hCentive a $13.4 million contract for design, for development and implementation, and a $14.1 million contract for maintenance and operation for three years. The request for proposal that was awarded to hCentive sought a vendor that could offer an Individual Exchange Technology and Customer Engagement Center Services.

About beWellnm, New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange

BeWellnm was created to help individuals and small businesses get access to affordable health insurance plans. BeWellnm helps consumers compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. BeWellnm also helps individuals determine whether they are eligible for premium assistance and if so, at what level. Through beWellnm for Small Business, small businesses are able to purchase competitively priced health insurance plans and offer their employees the ability to choose from an array of plans. Enrollment Counselors and insurance agents are available throughout the state to help with signing up for health insurance.

To find more information on beWellnm, New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange, visit www.beWellnm.com or call us at 1-833-ToBeWell.