Haaland Names Healthcare Steering Committee Members
The committee will advise New Mexico's incoming governor on Medicaid, rural hospitals, and provider shortages.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Healthcare
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Governor-elect Deb Haaland announced the members of her Healthcare Steering Committee on Friday, the second of five transition steering committees. The panel, which has four co-chairs and eight additional members, is drawn from advocates, policy experts, community leaders, and coalition builders across New Mexico.
Why it matters
The committee will advise Haaland on protecting and expanding Medicaid, advancing universal healthcare, and investing in rural hospitals, issues that directly affect residents across the state. Its composition reflects a stated priority of building an administration that represents New Mexico's geographic and cultural diversity.
The announcement is one of five transition steering committees Haaland has formed, with the Healthcare committee listed second in the sequence. The committee has four co-chairs and eight additional members, and the source does not detail its budget or reporting schedule.
The players
Deb Haaland
Haaland is the Governor-elect of New Mexico and a former U.S. Secretary of the Interior who previously served in Congress.
Dr. Barbara McAneny
McAneny is a physician and co-chair of the Healthcare Steering Committee who has been active in New Mexico's oncology and health-policy communities.
Dr. Nicole Centazzo
Centazzo is a physician and co-chair of the Healthcare Steering Committee who works in New Mexico's health sector.
The details
Haaland announced the committee's membership on Friday. The panel will advise on Medicaid, universal healthcare, rural hospitals, prescription drug costs, and provider shortages, and it includes co-chairs Dr. Barbara McAneny and Dr. Nicole Centazzo.
Timeline
- Friday, November 13, 2026: Haaland announces Healthcare Steering Committee members.
Roadmap
The committee's stated focus on protecting and expanding Medicaid builds on the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion framework, which New Mexico adopted to extend coverage to more residents. Its agenda on universal healthcare and rural hospitals extends that framework toward broader coverage and the financial stability of smaller facilities.
Residents who rely on Medicaid or who use rural hospitals will see whether the incoming administration's priorities translate into policy on coverage and facility funding. The committee's recommendations, once issued, will shape decisions on prescription drug costs and provider availability that affect everyday healthcare access.
The takeaway
Forming a healthcare advisory panel before taking office signals that the incoming administration intends to address Medicaid, rural hospitals, and drug costs early. Residents should watch for the committee's recommendations as they move from advice to policy.
Further reading
For more on the state's health policy debates, see Healthcare coverage from across New Mexico.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Alamos Daily Post.
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