Having a baby in New Mexico

New Mexico WIC gives pregnant and new parents, babies and children under 5 healthy food, nutrition help and breastfeeding support. You qualify on income at or below 185% of the poverty guidelines, and you may already qualify if you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF.

Program

New Mexico WIC

Agency

New Mexico Department of Health

Phone

(866) 867-3124

Apply online

Start the online form

Notes

Online, you can request an appointment; clinic staff call within 7 days.

1. 1

   Start online or call

   Contact a WIC agency where you live to start, by phone or online. The agency schedules an in-person or virtual appointment to finish the application and nutrition check.
2. 2

   Go to your appointment

   In person or virtual. Staff finish your application and do a free health and nutrition check.

In New Mexico, Medicaid covers doula care: up to $3,300 per pregnancy for nine 2-hour prenatal or postpartum visits a year, plus support during labor and delivery.

Covered since

October 1, 2024

Most Medicaid pays per pregnancy

$3,300

Payment

$25 per 15 minutes ($100/hour) for prenatal and postpartum visits (T1032 U1), up to 2 hours per day and nine 2-hour visits per calendar year (up to $1,800); $1,500 flat for labor and delivery support (T1033 U3). Up to $3,300. Counseling for pre-conception, pregnancy loss, infant loss or termination is billed separately (T1032 U2). Extra visits need documented medical necessity.

Prenatal and postpartum visits, combined

9

Labor and delivery support

Yes

Doula certification required

NM Department of Health Certified Doula (one of 3 pathways: certified training, core-competency training + 3 clients, or experience with 3 recommendations + 3 clients), age 18+, adult/infant CPR, HIPAA training, local business license and FEIN; 24 CE hours every 2 years; then enroll with NM Medicaid and credential with each MCO

Notes

The visit cap is nine 2-hour visits per calendar year, not per pregnancy. Date: SPA NM-24-0004 and HCA Letter of Direction #47 make coverage effective 10/1/2024, with late claims back to that date allowed. In practice the benefit started Feb. 2, 2025, when state doula certification opened, according to the National Health Law Program. Dollar rates come from the 2026 reference guide produced by New Mexico's Medicaid health plans, the state health department and the NM Doula Association. Per the DOH FAQ: a medical referral is required, services must be in person (no virtual visits), overnight care is not covered, and doulas cannot also charge clients. Doulas within 100 miles of NM can certify. The member link goes to the health department's Doula Program page; it explains Medicaid coverage but is written mainly for doulas.

The dollar figure is what Medicaid pays the doula, not what you pay. Medicaid can't charge cost sharing for pregnancy-related services, so covered doula care costs you nothing. You usually need a recommendation from a doctor, midwife or other licensed provider, and a doula in your health plan's network. Checked October 2026; rates often change January 1 and July 1, so confirm with Turquoise Care (New Mexico Medicaid).

In New Mexico, at least one Turquoise Care health plan (BCBSNM) covers breast pumps and replacement supplies with no prior authorization.

Prior authorization

Not required

Notes

Based on one Turquoise Care health plan: BCBSNM's 2026 member handbook lists breast pumps and replacement supplies as covered for Standard Medicaid and the Alternative Benefit Plan with no prior authorization. The state fee schedule couldn't be reviewed and NMAC 8.324.5 doesn't mention breast pumps, so pump types, prescription rules, limits and the other plans' rules are unconfirmed.

New Mexico Medicaid member information