Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) announced that Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz, Interim Chief Executive Officer of La Casa Family Health Center in Portales, Clovis, and Roswell, will join her as her guest for the day of the State of the Union Address to highlight the urgent need to protect rural health care and affordability for New Mexico families.

Pacheco-Muñoz represents the frontline health care providers who are fighting to keep rural clinics open and serving patients even as federal policies threaten funding and increase financial strain on rural health systems. La Casa Family Health Center is a federally qualified health center serving rural communities across eastern New Mexico, providing primary care, behavioral health, dental services, and outreach to thousands of patients across Roosevelt, Curry, and Chaves counties.

“Carmen’s story is New Mexico’s story,” said Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández. “She started at La Casa as a young secretary and single mother trying to make ends meet and afford health care. Through hard work and dedication, she rose to lead the very clinic that helps families like hers afford to get the care they need. Carmen understands firsthand that Medicaid is not an abstract policy—it is the difference between care and crisis, between stability and uncertainty. It means families don’t have to choose between going to a doctor when they are sick or paying their rent. At a time when Trump’s policies threaten health care access in rural communities, Carmen reminds us what’s at stake. We will make sure Trump hears the voices of rural New Mexico — which he has betrayed.”

Pacheco-Muñoz has dedicated 36 years to La Casa Family Health Center, beginning as a medical secretary and rising through the organization to lead it as Interim CEO. Her leadership reflects both professional experience and personal understanding of the barriers many rural families face when trying to access health care.

“Community Health Centers serve more than 328,000 New Mexicans, many of them in rural communities where we are the only source of care,” said Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz. “I am honored to represent rural healthcare providers and the patients we serve. I know firsthand how vital Medicaid and community health centers are because I lived the struggle of accessing healthcare as a single mother trying to raise my daughters and afford care. Clinics like La Casa, and all Community Health Centers across New Mexico, serve everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, but we cannot do it alone. Federal support and Medicaid are essential to ensuring that families, children, seniors, and those living with chronic conditions can access care with dignity. Rural voices must be heard, and I am proud to bring the realities of our communities to Washington.”

Congresswoman Leger Fernández also announced that she and Pacheco-Muñoz will not attend the State of the Union speech. Instead, they will participate in the People's State of the Union— alternative programming focused on amplifying the voices of families harmed by the administration’s policies. Additional details on this programming can be found at MoveOn.org/Live and media credential requests can be found here.

Medicaid is the backbone of rural health care in New Mexico and the main way nearly half of New Mexicans afford health care. Rural clinics like La Casa depend on it to keep their doors open. Trump and his allies passed a budget that cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, which will kick an estimated 120,000 New Mexicans off their health coverage. These cuts will increase uncompensated care, destabilize rural clinics, and put 6 to 8 rural hospitals in New Mexico at risk of closure. Providers across the state could face more than $213 million in uncompensated care costs as patients lose coverage but still need lifesaving treatment.

Trump’s failure to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits — even after Democrats forced a vote to extend them for 3 years — will dramatically raise health care costs. In New Mexico’s Third Congressional District alone, more than 14,000 people rely on those tax credits to afford insurance. Without them, a 55-year-old New Mexican earning about $63,000 could see their annual premiums rise by more than $5,000.

These actions come as rural providers already face workforce shortages, rising costs, and growing financial pressures.

Congresswoman Leger Fernández has been a strong advocate for protecting Medicaid, expanding health care access, and strengthening rural health systems. She continues to fight back against policies that threaten care for New Mexico families and remains committed to make sure that rural communities are not left behind.

The Congresswoman’s second guest will be announced early next week. A headshot of Pacheco-Muñoz is available here.

###