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House Bill 233: Diabetic Foot Ulcer Equipment

Nov. 5, 2025

(Applies to Individual & Family Markets; Student Health plans, excluding ASO; fully Insured groups, including Grandfathered; IBAC*)

What you need to know:

House Bill 233 amends the existing diabetic coverage mandate in the Insurance Code with two primary changes:

  1. Requires coverage of medically necessary treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
  2. Specifies that mandated coverage includes topical oxygen therapy for diabetic foot ulcers

What’s the impact to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico plans?

Topical oxygen therapy will now be covered, subject to medical necessity, for members with diabetic foot ulcers. Other forms of diabetic foot ulcer treatment are already covered by BCBSNM plans. Benefit booklets will be updated to include the following language:

Your health benefits plan covers the following basic health care benefits for diabetes:

  • Self-management training provided by a certified, registered or licensed health care professional with recent education in diabetes management
  • Medically necessary visits upon the diagnosis of diabetes
  • Visits following a diagnosis indicating a significant change in your symptoms or condition that warrants changes in your self-management
  • Visits when re-education or refresher training is prescribed by your provider with prescribing authority
  • Telephonic visits with a Certified Diabetes Educator. Approved diabetes educators may be required to be practitioners/providers who are registered, certified or licensed health care professional with recent education in diabetes management.
  • Medical nutrition therapy related to diabetes management
  • Medically necessary treatment of active diabetic foot ulcers, including topical oxygen therapy.

When does this go into effect?

  • Jan. 1, 2026, regardless of renewal date.

IBAC entities include Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority (NMPSIA), New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority (NMRHCA, and State of New Mexico Risk Management Division (SONM). 

*This article, or a similar version, is being shared with employer groups in the BlueVISION℠ newsletter or news alert.