Statewide Health Security for New Mexicans Meeting This Saturday

From Health Security for New Mexicans: This Saturday, May 30, the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign will be holding a statewide meeting in Albuquerque to discuss where we go from here. We are very excited to announce that Rep. Rick Miera will be our special speaker for this occasion. Our former chair, Rep. Eleanor Chavez, will also be there to help wrap up the meeting.

Your input is extremely important. Support for the Health Security Act continues to grow. How do we mobilize this support so our legislators hear loud and clear that New Mexico wants to set up its own health plan? How do we build our power to get the Health Security Act passed in 2011?

Please join us on Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 114 Carlisle Blvd SE (corner of Silver and Carlisle) in Albuquerque.If you haven't already, please let us know if you will be coming. RSVP to Josette at jhaddad@cableone.net or 505-771-8763. See below for directions to the meeting.

I-25 (From the North)

• Take Exit 224B toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave/Central Ave.
• Turn left (east) onto Central Ave and drive for 1.8 miles.
• Turn right onto Carlisle Blvd (there is a traffic light and a short right-turn lane at this intersection)
• Immanuel Presbyterian Church will be directly on your left.

I-25 (From the South)

• Take Exit 224A toward Central Ave/Lead Ave/Historic US Hwy 66/Coal Ave.
• Turn right (east) onto Central Ave and drive for 1.8 miles.
• Turn right onto Carlisle Blvd (there is a traffic light and a short right-turn lane at this intersection).
• Immanuel Presbyterian Church will be directly on your left.

I-40 (From the East or West)

• Take Exit 160 (Carlisle Blvd).
• Go south on Carlisle Blvd for 1.8 miles.
• Immanuel Presbyterian Church will be on your left directly after you cross Central Ave.
• Enter the church from Carlisle Blvd. Do not go up the stairs; the entrance you want is to the left of the stairs, where the blue minivan is parked.

If you get lost, please call Dana (505-269-3779) or Mary (505-235-0116).

The Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign, a statewide, nonpartisan coalition of 144 organizations and numerous individual supporters, was created in 1992. Its mission is to establish a publicly accountable health care system in New Mexico that guarantees comprehensive and affordable health care coverage, including preventive health care and freedom of choice of provider, for all New Mexicans.

The Campaign, with public input from around the state, has developed the Health Security Plan as a solution to our growing health care crisis. The Health Security Plan is designed like a cooperative and is a health coverage model that does not rely on the current private insurance system. Plan members would have complete freedom of choice of health care provider and facility (no more networks), even across state lines, and would receive the same services currently offered to state employees.

Legislation based on this plan has been introduced in the state legislature several times as the Health Security Act and is gaining greater credibility and support despite powerful insurance industry opposition. To date, 31 New Mexico counties and municipalities have passed resolutions in support of the Health Security Act.