New $1 Million Grant Opens to Expand Primary Care Residencies in New Mexico

The New Mexico Health Care Authority will distribute $1 million in Graduate Medical Education grant funding beginning July 1, 2026, to support primary care residency programs across the state. The funding was allocated by the 2025 Legislature in House Bill 480. Applications opened at 8 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2026, and must be submitted by 5 p.m. MST on Feb. 27, 2026; application materials and forms are posted on the HCA GME Grant web page.

Primary care providers in Los Alamos County and elsewhere in New Mexico are encouraged to apply. Award decisions will depend on the number of applications received, the amounts requested, and the availability of funds. The GME grant prioritizes proposals that align with three key strategies: creating new first-year residency positions to establish or expand primary care residency programs, sustaining existing residency programs that maintain access to care in underserved areas or for underserved populations, and developing new primary care workforce training pathways such as nursing, physician assistant, or dental residency programs.

A virtual grant application training webinar was held Jan. 5, 2026, to walk applicants through eligibility requirements, timelines, application tips, and the overall funding opportunity. Those who missed the session can find application instructions and webinar information on the Primary Care Council page of the HCA website.

For Los Alamos County, the grant offers a practical lever to bolster the local health workforce over the medium term. Establishing new residency slots or supporting existing programs can help create a steady pipeline of clinicians who train in-state and are more likely to remain practicing in nearby communities. Programs that sustain care for underserved populations may also help address gaps in access that affect rural and high-cost counties, potentially easing demand on emergency departments and overburdened clinics.

Interested institutions and providers should review the application guidance on the HCA GME Grant web page and prepare proposals before the Feb. 27 deadline. With funding to begin next summer, successful applicants will have months to plan program expansion, recruit residents, and align training with community needs. This round of GME funding represents a targeted investment in the future primary care workforce across New Mexico, with tangible implications for access to care in Los Alamos County.