Richardson Proposes 5 Point Plan to Expand Healthcare Coverage

Governor Bill Richardson will be introducing a number of measures to the state Legislature in January aimed at expanding medical coverage to significant numbers of New Mexicans who currently lack health insurance. The uninsured population here is estimated to total around 400,000 people or 22% of the state's population -- second only to Texas for the highest percentage of uninsured residents in a state.

In addition, Richardson appointed a task force to be chaired by Lt. Gov. Diane Denish that will study various options for achieving some sort of universal healthcare coverage in the long term. The study will be jointly funded by the NM Human Services Department and the Legislative Council Service, and national experts will be invited to review each plan and produce cost estimates for each option. The recommendations of the task force will be submitted to the Legislature in 2008. Here's the article in the Santa Fe New Mexican that reviews the Governor's proposals, provides feedback from the community and provides data on New Mexico's uninsured population.

Included below is the Governor's press release on this intiative. What are your thoughts on his proposals?

From the Office of Governor Bill Richardson:
June 20, 2006 (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 below.) 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:

NM House Members
James Madalena
Danice Picraux
Brian Moore

NM 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 Pena

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