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Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Support Bill to Study Costs of Universal Health Coverage
From the Health Care for All Campaign and Health Action NM:
HB481, the Health Coverage for All New Mexicans Committee Act, introduced by Rep. Danice Picraux, is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday, Feb 2, 2006 in House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, Room 315 at 1:30 PM. HB 481 is last on the agenda. Please check the Legislative Council web site to make sure it does not change and or call the Secretary of the Committee at 986-4844. Try to call the legislators or come to the meeting and support this bill:
Gail Chasey, Chair, 986-4844, supports bill
Irvin Harrison, Vice Chair, 986-4464,
Thomas Anderson 986-4453,
Keith Gardner, 986-4211, supports, but still call
Joni Gutierrez ,986-4234, supports, but tell her no amendments
Dianne Miller Hamilton, 986-422
Al Park 986-4234. supports, but tell him no amendments
We are asking you to call or visit all of these Committee members and ask for support with NO AMENDMENTS. Health Action NM and The Health Care for All Campaign has worked hard to negotiate for the objective study of the comparison of projected cost of various models of universal health care, including the current system. We believe passage of this legislation will move NM forward and off political deadlock on this issue. We have been told that any amendments will be reason for a veto from the Governor.
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Have you heard about the Progressive Networking Center located at First Christian Church, 645 Webber St, just a couple of blocks south of the Capitol? Open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM for all Progressive advocates and lobbyists; we have computer, internet, fax, and copier, plus wireless for laptop users. We also have coffee, tea, bottled water, and snacks. Meeting space is available, too. The Progressive Networking Center is jointly sponsored by the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and the New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment and funded by a grant from Emily and Michael Rosenberg. Donations are accepted.
February 1, 2006 at 08:45 PM in Local Politics | Permalink
Comments
According to the NEW MEXICO NEWS SERVICE
the Roundhouse takes up the health care crisis in New Mexico today (Thursday), looking at legislation that sets up a large committee to study options for everyone in the state to have affordable health care coverage. It's an idea the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign (a coalition of 113 organizations) has been working on for more than a decade, and Campaign president Max Bartlett has concerns about the bill.
What started out as a study on how all New Mexicans can have affordable health care coverage has grown beyond the original goal, according to Max Bartlett with the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign. The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee takes up the bill (Health Coverage for All New Mexicans Committee Act)today, Thursday, Feb. 2. Bartlett is not impressed that the bill includes appointment of a 39-member committee to supervise the study, and the final recommendations won't surface until the end of 2007. Bartlett adds, "It just means that all the current suffering from lack of health care insurance in the state is continued, and exacerbated." Bartlett says it's time to get back to the basics, and crunch the numbers as soon as possible on health insurance options for everyone in the state. He says it should be possible to complete a study by the end of this year.
Posted by: -suz | Feb 2, 2006 9:28:36 AM
Thanks for the update and another view of the effectiveness of this bill. Sounds like a boondoggle in the making if Max Bartlett is correct.
Posted by: barb | Feb 2, 2006 9:58:59 AM
