According to the United States Census Bureau, about a third of New Mexicans — more than 700,000 people — reside in rural and frontier towns and counties. This often means less access to regular medical care, including disease-preventing vaccines.
Enter the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico Care Van® Program, a mobile health clinic that has been traveling the state since 2006 to help improve health outcomes for New Mexicans.
Meeting people where they’re at
In 2023, community outreach specialists Thomas Butler and Tony Nichols racked up thousands of miles on BCBSNM’s two Care Vans, providing access to no-cost services to more than 13,000 adults, seniors and children. These services help reduce long-term health care costs for New Mexicans and are available to everyone.
More than 20 organizations — such as New Mexico Lions Operation KidSight, Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach and Utopia Mobile Care — use the Care Van program to support their outreach efforts throughout the state.
In 2023, in collaboration with 24 organizations, 22 different types of health services, including vaccinations and vision and dental screenings, were administered nearly 14,000 times inside the Care Vans.
Throughout the year, the two Care Vans traveled to 30 counties in the state. Alamogordo, White Rock, Artesia and Vado were among the 50 cities and towns where services were provided.
One of the most popular Care Van visits was in Albuquerque during a health fair for refugees. At the event, approximately 900 screenings were administered.
“The event was for Umoja Abq, an organization that provides services to refugee women and children,” Butler says. “For many attendees, it was their first time receiving dental and medical screenings since coming to the United States.”
Learn more about the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico Care Van Program.
