Governor Richardson Appoints Committee to Study Various Models of Universal Health Care!
After line-item vetoing the money Rep. Danice Picraux and I had inserted in the budget for a cost study of various models of universal health care, the Guv is going for it. He’s appointed a committee and we’ll start work soon.
He’s also going with a key recommendation from the legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee and last year’s Insure New Mexico Task Force. That recommendation is that we expand the eligibility of Medicaid for adults to a decent level (100% of the federal poverty level or about $16,600 for a family of three), to relieve pressure on stressed hospitals who now provide the indigent care, and let the federal government pay three quarters of the bill. Thank You Governor---Hosana, Hosana in the Highest.
Now all we have to do is to get the legislature to fund the expansion to the tune of $62 million. I hope I can count on some of you out there in the blogsphere to help. It will mean the opportunity for health insurance for 42,000 low income New Mexicans, almost all of them working.
Here’s the news release out of the Governor’s Office:
Governor Richardson Takes Action to Close Uninsured Gap in New Mexico
July 20, 2006
Jon Goldstein 505-476-2248
(Santa Fe, NM) -- Governor Bill Richardson today announced a five point plan to help extend health care coverage to more New Mexicans. This plan builds upon the effort Governor Richardson took during the last legislative session to make sure that every New Mexico child, five and younger, has access to health
care coverage.
“Today we are making another huge step forward,” said Governor Richardson. “These are immediate steps and longer term solutions to cover the nearly 400,000 New Mexicans who currently do not have health insurance. Uninsured New Mexicans are at tremendous risk and the effect of uncompensated care on our health care system is profound. We can’t wait for the federal government to solve this issue, we have to act now.”
The Governor’s five point plan includes:
1. Phase in a requirement that companies that do business with the state must offer health insurance benefits to their New Mexico employees. The General Services Department will lead a small group of cabinet secretaries to develop a plan that will institute this requirement by fiscal year 2008. This group
will be sensitive to the needs of small vendors.
2. The General Services Department will pinpoint the number of state employees who decline health coverage. Currently, if an employee declines enrollment, the state does not check to see if they have coverage through a spouse or another entity. This full accounting will help get an accurate picture of the coverage gaps and target outreach to get as many state employees covered as
possible.
3. Maximize the Medicaid program. For fiscal year 2008, Governor Richardson will seek funding to increase coverage for adults via a two-year, phased-in approach. This initiative will be specifically designed to help low income adults up to 100% of the federal poverty level. It will leverage millions of dollars
in additional federal funding and help cover tens of thousands of New Mexicans.
4. Funding to expand the State Coverage Insurance program to help cover more working adults and asking the federal government to raise the federal poverty requirement to 300% with cost-sharing based on income. Expanding this public/private partnership with small employers will help cover the many
hardworking New Mexicans who currently cannot afford insurance.
5. Governor Richardson and the legislative leadership have appointed a 21-member task force to analyze health coverage models and make recommendations on across-the-board coverage solutions for New Mexicans. This Coverage for New Mexicans Committee will have broad membership from the health care industry, insurance and advocacy communities (list attached). This committee will deliver its findings to the Governor in a year, in time to work with the legislature on a comprehensive health coverage package for the 2008 session.
“There are some good ideas emerging at the state level,” said Governor Richardson. “States like Massachusetts and Michigan have taken aggressive action to cover more citizens. However, New Mexico has unique needs that make a one-size-fits-all solution problematic. This committee will help find solutions that will work in our unique state.”
This plan builds upon the Richardson Administration’s efforts over the past three years to close New Mexico’s uninsured gap. Following the last legislative session, Governor Richardson signed:
• Senate Bill 267 to help the Human Services Department provide medical or premium assistance to uninsured children who are not otherwise Medicaid eligible
• House Bill 24 to give employers more health insurance options for employees through both the Health Insurance Alliance and state or federal agencies offering health insurance coverage
Proposed Participants for the Health Coverage for New Mexicans Committee
House Members
James Madalena
Danice Picraux
Brian Moore
Senate Members
Dede Feldman
Carroll Leavell
Mary Jane Garcia
Health Care Advocate
Charlotte Roybal Health Action NM
Uninsured
April Redbird
Division of Insurance
Mike Batte Public Regulation Commission
Insurance Industry
David Scrase, M.D. Presbyterian Health Plan
Craig Keyes, M.D. United Healthcare
Employers
Alfredo Vigil, M.D. Health Centers of Northern New Mexico
Duane Trythall Excel Staffing Companies
Dennis Peña
Nonprofit
Michelle Melendez St. Joseph’s Community Health Services
Labor
Robin Gould Communication Workers of America
Hospital Representative
Steve Altmiller San Juan Regional Medical Center
Provider/ Physician
Jim Tryon, M.D. NM Medical Society
Charlie Alfero CEO, Hildalgo Medical Services
Human Services Department
Pam Hyde Secretary
CHAIR
Diane Denish Lt Governor
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