Governor Bill Richardson Establishes NM Office of Health Care Reform; First Meeting On 8/18

Governor Bill Richardson today released a statement announcing that he has signed an Executive Order establishing the New Mexico Office of Health Care Reform and expanding the Health Care Reform Leadership Team. He said both will be instrumental in implementing the state’s plan for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed by Congress earlier this year.

“Implementing the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a very big task and must be done carefully to ensure all New Mexicans will benefit from health care reform,” Richardson said. “The Office of Health Care Reform will collaborate with the expanded Leadership Team to lead the executive branch in establishing policies, priorities, and objectives for state government’s comprehensive effort in reaching our goals for implementation.”

Last month, Governor Richardson concurred with several recommendations contained in the Health Care Reform Leadership Team’s strategic plan, Implementing Federal Health Care Reform – A Roadmap for New Mexico. These included creating an Office of Health Care Reform within the New Mexico Human Services Department that would use existing staff resources and expanding the Leadership Team created earlier this year and chaired by HSD Secretary Katie Falls.

The expansion includes six additional members:

• The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration,
• The Secretary of the Public Education Department,
• The Secretary of the Higher Education Department,
• The Director of the Risk Management Division of the General Services Department,
• The Director of the Workers’ Compensation Administration, and
• The Director of the Women’s Health Advisory Council.

The expanded Leadership Team has scheduled its first meeting, which is August 18, 2010 in Santa Fe from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at 37 Plaza la Prensa. The public is welcome.

The Office of Health Care Reform is required to report to the Governor no later than November 1, 2010 regarding legislative proposals needed to implement health care reform in New Mexico for the 2011 legislative session.

Click for the text of the Executive Order (pdf).