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TERP Funding

Temporary Economic Relief Payment (TERP)

The New Mexico Human Services (HDS) department announced that Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) providers in New Mexico would receive a 15% temporary reimbursement increase to help support the critical services they provide to vulnerable New Mexicans. This money comes through Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The enhanced federal funding allows New Mexico to make both short and long-term investments in programs that serve the most vulnerable New Mexicans.

The reimbursement increase will be available for eligible services from May 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Funds should offset increased costs related to the public health emergency. Payments may be used for:

staff retention
personal protective equipment
hazard pay
training
infrastructure and/or technology improvements that will enhance current/future HCBS service delivery.

“This much needed influx of dollars will help our state’s provider network in many important ways,” said Jason Cornwell, New Mexico Department of Health Developmental Disabilities Supports Division Director. “From mitigating pandemic costs and inflation, to being able to better provide a living wage to the workforce dedicated to providing services for our state’s most vulnerable citizens and their families, this money will further expand access to the essential services many have waited years to receive.”

Spending Decisions

Each agency in New Mexico has to decide how it will spend the TERP funds. Many agencies, including At Home Advocacy, spent a lot of money on fax machines, unused meeting space, personal protective equipment, and other costs associated with navigating social distancing and other COVID requirements. Agencies have a legitimate right to some of those funds under the purposes of the funding.

At Home Advocacy's mission is to create value for the people and families we support. As an agency, we decided the best way we could add value with this first round of funds was to pass 100% of the funds on to our families and providers. We hope this provides additional support during uncertain times and increased costs due to inflation. We hope the money will be used to make valuable memories, create more stability in your home, and make meaningful improvements in your life and the lives of the people we support. At Home Advocacy is committed to spending all future payments on families, staff, and other projects that are likely to create value and improve our core services.

At Home Advocacy sent payments out to current families and caregivers that will arrive on or before June 2, 2022. There are some people whose banking information we are still working out. For those people we will reach out as soon as we can.