Democracy for New Mexico

ACTION ALERT: Urge Sen. Domenici to Support Children's Health Insurance Bill

Editor's Note: If you care about expanding health insurance coverage for children in New Mexico and around the nation, now is the time to contact Sen. Domenici and urge him to support the SCHIP bill passed by the Senate Finance Committee. There are at least 86,000 children in New Mexico who lack healthcare coverage and many more who are underinsured. The link provided below makes it easy to contact Sen. Domenici (and our other members of Congress). You can also call Sen. Domenici's office toll free by using 1-800-861-5343. Please do either or both TODAY.

From the Children's Defense Fund:
As you probably already aware, right now the future of children’s health insurance is being decided on Capitol Hill. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) – a program that provides health coverage to poor children – is being considered for reauthorization and Congress is deciding whether or not they will renew the program and if they will expand it to include more children and possibly improve the program as well.

Taking this opportunity to renew, expand, and improve SCHIP is critical because although SCHIP has been effective at reducing the number of uninsured children over the past 10 years, nine million children are still uninsured (86,000 in New Mexico) and millions more are underinsured. That means millions of children in America are not getting the care they need to lead healthy and happy lives.

Late last week, the Senate Finance Committee approved $35 billion expansion that would be financed through tobacco taxes that now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. At the same time, President Bush has proposed his own plan with a mere $5 billion expansion and has threatened to veto the Senate compromise. Additionally, the House is considering SCHIP legislation in the next few days, before the August recess. As you can see, this issue is front-and-center this week and next on Capitol Hill. Since Senator Domenici plays a key role in getting this Senate bill passed and in providing enough votes to override Bush’s veto, we thought you and your readers would be interested in this issue.

The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has been working hard over the last few months to raise awareness of the nine million uninsured children in America and pushing to better fund (at least $50 billion in new money) and improve the program by getting people to contact their Members of Congress through our website (www.childrensdefense.org) and through our Elect Susie Campaign website (www.electsusie.com). Although CDF’s ultimate goal is to provide health coverage to all nine million children this year, we know that this reauthorization is a great opportunity to make important inroads into the problem by expanding and improving the program to cover as many children as possible.

For more information, check these articles:

Bush’s proposal: “Bush: No Deal On Children's Health Plan,” July 19, 2007

Senate proposal: “Senate Panel OKs Child Health Bill,” July 19, 2007

House proposal: “House Democrats Offer Health Plan,” July 24, 2007

Speak Out on Health Care at Legislative Meetings in Las Vegas & Taos

From the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign:
Las Vegas: On Wednesday, July 18, the Interim Legislative Health and Human Services Committee will be meeting in Las Vegas at New Mexico Highlands University's Student Center. The focus of the agenda will be to discuss health care reform and the study that was recently completed by Mathematica. The executive director of the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign, Mary Feldblum, has been asked to present (at 3:30 PM), as has Celia Ameline, the creator of Health Choices. The meeting begins at 1:00 PM, and there will be a public comment period from 5:45 to 7:00 PM. Come hear our executive director and let the committee hear your opinions!

Taos: On Thursday and Friday, July 19 and 20, the Interim Legislative Health and Human Services Committee will be meeting in Taos at the Taos Convention Center. Thursday's meeting begins at 10:30 AM and Friday's meeting begins at 9:00 AM. Again, there will be time for public comment. Public comment will take place Thursday from 5:20 to 7:00 PM and Friday from 3:00 to 3:30 PM. Please take advantage of the public comment periods to share your views with the committee.

It is critical that Health Security Campaign supporters speak out at these meetings in Las Vegas and Taos. You can check out the agenda for the July 18 Las Vegas meeting and the July 19 and 20 Taos meeting here (PDF).

Some Talking Points

• The Mathematica study clearly indicates that the Health Security Act is the only proposal that reduces health care costs and covers everyone.
• The results of the Mathematica study should not be ignored.
• This is the second time that a New Mexico study has concluded that putting all or almost all of our residents in one health risk pool saves money.
• The Health Security Act has had input from thousands of New Mexicans over the years. The Act is supported by 128 organizations and 25 counties and cities.
• We have a choice between two paths: to continue to invest in our broken private insurance system or to take a different road.
• Be sure to talk about why you support the Health Security Act.

Other Opportunities to Speak Up
We will let you know about other opportunities to let your voice be heard in the coming months. The Interim Health and Human Services Committee will be meeting in Zuni and Gallup in August, in Hobbs and Roswell in September, in Española and Santa Fe in October, and in Santa Fe in November. We'll let you know about specific dates, times, and venues as soon as the interim committee confirms them.

Just in case you haven't seen the results of the Mathematica study, we've included them below.

The Study Results
The following five models were analyzed by Mathematica, the company hired to perform the analysis.

• Model 1. Health Security Act, Version 1: Our plan, which sets up a cooperative to provide health insurance to almost all New Mexicans. This version assumes urban provider administrative savings.
• Model 2. Health Security Act, Version 2: This second version assumes no provider administrative savings.
• Model 3. Health Choices, Version 1: A health insurance marketing alliance that provides vouchers to all New Mexicans, paid for with taxpayer dollars.
• Model 4. Health Choices, Version 2: A version of the health insurance marketing alliance that allows employers who provide insurance to opt out.
• Model 5. Health Coverage Plan: Expansion of the current system, assuming greater enrollment in Medicaid and other public programs.

Click for a table (doc) of Mathematica's final numbers. Please note that these numbers exclude the over-65 (Medicare) population and the institutional population--populations that the Health Security Act would cover. The numbers also assume that under each model all New Mexicans are covered (a questionable assumption with all the models except the Health Security Act).

What these numbers mean: In 2007, only the Health Security Act costs less than the current system even when assuming no provider savings. The other models cost more than the current system.

In 2011, the Health Security Act version 1 saves $887 million (health expenditures are reduced by $887 million). Health Security version 2 saves $700 million. The Health Choices models cost $336 million and $383 million more than the current system. This amounts to over a $1 billion difference when you compare the cost of the Health Security models to the cost of the Health Choices models. (For example, Health Security version 1 costs $7,878 billion in 2001 while Health Choices version 1 costs $9,101 billion in that same year.)

In 2011, the Health Coverage model costs $70 million more than the current system. If you compare the difference in costs between the Health Security models and the Health Coverage model, Health Security version 1 amounts to almost $1 billion dollars in savings and Health Security version 2 amounts to $800 million. (For example, Health Security version 1 costs $7,878 billion in 2011 and Health Coverage costs $8,835 billion.)

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact Josette at 505-771-8763 or jhaddad@cableone.net.

ACTION ALERT: Community Forum on Health Care Reform Set for ABQ, 07.17.07

Editor's Note: Attention Albuquerque area grassroots; this is your chance to speak your mind and help shape the discussion of what the legislature needs to do to most effectively reform New Mexico's health care system so that it provides universal coverage and high quality care. If you're concerned about health care, now is the time to learn more about the results of the recent health care study by Mathematica and make your views known about the best path to pursue on this issue. 

From Health Action New Mexico:
Community Forum: “Achieving Health Care for All”
Presentation, Discussion on NM Health Care Reform Study

Join members of the community to discuss the results of a state-sponsored study comparing various models of universal health care, the work of the Governor and Legislative Health Coverage for New Mexicans Committee, and achieving health care for all people living in New Mexico.

• When: Tuesday, July 17th, 2007, 6:00-8:00 PM
• Where: First Unitarian Church, 3701 Carlisle NE, SW corner of Comanche and Carlisle in NE Albuquerque
• Light refreshments
• Spanish interpretation provided
• For More Information Call Leigh Mason, 975-9667
• Click for flyer (doc) you can distribute or post

Local Cosponsors:

• Bernalillo County Community Health Council
• Native American Health Care Council of New Mexico
• St. Joseph’s Community Health

Statewide Sponsors:

• Health Care for All Campaign
• New Mexico Voices for Children
• League of Women Voters NM
• AARP
• NM Conference of Churches
• NM Coalition for the Homeless
• Health Action NM

Additional community forums will be held in Las Cruces, Silver City, Santa Fe, Roswell, Taos, Rio Rancho, Las Vegas, and Gallup during the period of July throught September. More information will be released as it's available.

Right On, Right On, Right On

Michael Moore riffing on the sins of Sanjay Gupta, CNN and the MSM. Gogogogogogogogo. Admit it -- you, yourself, have often yelled at the TV set with similar passion when Wolfie or another of the mocking bobbleheads is twisting reality to suit the overlords, haven't you? Gupta's review of Sicko that precipitated Moore's rant.

On the ever widening impeachment front, there's this. I hope they don't shoot it out of the sky. Nothing is impossible these days in the Bush-Cheney Land of a Thousand Nightmares.

The Call for Health Care Revolution Comes to Texas

If it can happen in Dallas, it can happen anywhere, even in the halls of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Read all about it.

Sicko Opens in Santa Fe Today

Michael Moore helps couple battle insurance company and save their house. Add your healthcare horror story here.

According to MrMovietimes:
UA DeVargas 6, Santa Fe
562 North Guadalupe | map | 800.326.3264 608
Accommodations for the disabled
Sicko (PG-13) 2hrs 00min  12:00, 3:30, 7:40, 10:25

Latest info on Sicko: https://www.michaelmoore.com/.

See what the presidential candidates are receiving as "campaign donations" from HMOs, pharmaceutical companies, physicians and other health industry people: Candidates for Sale.

Guest Blog: How to Get Health Security for Everybody

This is a guest blog by Terry Riley of Albuquerque:
New Mexico is working on health care coverage reform. The movie "Sicko" will convince you of the critical need for such reform if you are not already convinced. I urge everybody to take everybody that you know to the movie. I cannot imagine anybody coming out of the movie without understanding that our system of health care reimbursement is broken and that there are plenty of systems that we could adopt that work well.

I have been working on a plan here in New Mexico that will work well and will reduce what New Mexico pays for health care plus it will cover everybody in the state. The Governor and the Legislature put together a committee to study the problem and to make a proposal in time for the 2008 legislative session. As part of the work that they have done they hired a consulting firm to calculate how much each of the three systems that the committee had narrowed to would cost. The Health Security Plan would cost less than we spend as a state now where the other two plans would cost more.

Cost should never be the only reason to rely on when making such an important decision. What and who will be covered should be of equal importance. The Health Security Plan won again. It is the only plan where everybody in the state will be covered. The other two plans have some small gaps, which I fear will become wide gaps after implementation. One example of a group of people who would not be covered in the two more expensive plans, is people who are homeless due to domestic abuse.  Personally, I don't need to look for any more examples of who would not be covered. These people desperately need coverage and they are not. I see that everybody is covered under the Health Security Plan.  I don’t understand why the other two plans are still being considered. They cost more and they don't cover everybody.

The hearings that were held on Thursday and Friday, June 21 and 22 also reported on the impact on gross receipts taxes, job losses vs. job gains, legal ramifications relating to federal government medical assistance programs, etc. The study by Mathematica was extremely detailed. I believe, from having attended the reports from Mathematica, and from having read as much of the 218 page report that I have completed so far, that the Health Security Plan is the least expensive, the least difficult to implement, and everybody is covered. 

Thursday afternoon the committee received a communication from Governor Richardson. Michele Welby who is on the Governor's staff and is a member of the committee relayed the communication. What I feel is the most significant and most disturbing point in his communication is that he will not support any plan that does not include the health insurance corporations. This is the largest and most unnecessary cost in our entire health care delivery system.

The argument that the Health Security Plan is a single payer system - AND - unworkable because it would be run by the "Government", is stupid. The Health Security Plan is a Co-Op, which is a distinct type of single payer system that has a long history of success in the development of our country. The argument that we cannot trust the "Government" to run anything seems very unrealistic to me.  Aren't our fire departments, police and sheriff's departments run by the government?  Aren't Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid run by the government?  Aren't our streets and highways maintained by our government?  What about the obvious failure of the privatization of services to our armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan?  The same failure due to the privatization of aid to the victims of Katrina?  A government system that is constructed by people who have a financial interest in that system's failure will likely fail.  A government system that is constructed by people who have a personal interest in the success of that system have a high probability of success.

I want success. I want lower cost. I want everybody covered. We will only achieve these goals if we get organized and convince our elected representatives that we will accept nothing less. Please join me as I develop the necessary organization for New Mexico to bring health security to everybody.

The web site for the Health Security Plan is not working; for information on the Health Security Plan and to join in supporting the Health Security Plan please go to:  www.whatifyouknew-nm.com. The Health Security supporters do not have the funding of our private health coverage corporations and therefore cannot afford the fancy literature, TV ads, radio ads, and expensive retreats and luncheons for our legislators and for our Governor. We are citizens who are trying to put together a plan that will improve life for all of our neighbors.  The plan that we are proposing has now been analyzed by a company with extremely good credentials and has passed the test. It is time for us to come together and to explain to our representatives what we want done in our name.  In New Mexico we want the Health Security Plan.

Editor's Note: This is a guest blog by Albuquerque citizen-activist Terry Riley. Guest blogs provide our readers with an opportunity to express their opinions on political issues, and they may or may not represent our views. If you'd like to submit a post for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link at the upper right-hand corner of our main page.

SICK O' The System Press Conference & Rally Set for Friday Morning in ABQ

From Charlotte Roybal, Health Action New Mexico:
SICK O' The System Press Conference and Rally
JOIN US: Friday, June 29, 2007
10:00 AM - before the SICKO first showing in ABQ at 11 AM
Century 14 Movie Theatre (SW Corner of 1st and Central)
Filmaker Michael Moore's long awaited documentary "SICKO" will be released in ABQ. Sponsored By:

• Native Health Care Council
• Community Coalition for Health Care Access,
• Health Action NM
• NM Conference of Churches
• American Medical Students Association-NM Chapter

See attached flyers to distribute:

• Download sickow.doc (Word doc)
• Download sicko-2.pub (Publisher)
• Download sickopc.pub (Publisher)

Editor's Note: The Progress Report backs up "Sicko's" destruction of four major myths about American health care with the facts. This past Saturday, "Sicko" sold out every single sneak preview held in cities around the nation, including here in Albuquerque. Also check out David Sirota's report on his attendance at a sneak preview of the film in Denver and a rally with Michael Moore at the Colorado state capitol, including this video clip:

Early ABQ Sneak Preview of "Sicko" Set for This Saturday

See later post for more info on general opening of this film on June 29th.
**************

Due to high demand based on terrific reviews from special screenings, Michael Moore's new film about our broken health care system, "Sicko," will now be shown early at sneak previews around the nation. The movie will now be screened at special premiers at many theaters, including the Century Rio 24 in Albuquerque, at 7:30 PM on Saturday, June 23rd. You can buy advance tickets here. The movie will start its regular run at Albuquerque's Century Rio 24 and Century 12, as well as theaters all over the country on June 29th.

Check out our previous post about the movie and the health care activism it's inspiring. Also see MichaelMoore.com:

ACTION ALERT: Make Your Voice Heard on Health Coverage in NM

The final draft report prepared by Mathematica to evaluate health care coverage options for New Mexico has just been released. You can find links to the report in two parts on the website of Health Action New Mexico:

• Mathematica's Final Report (pdf)
• Potential Impacts on Revenue (pdf)

Important Opportunities for Public Input
The Health Coverage for New Mexicans Committee, the task force appointed by Governor Richardson to make recommendations for health coverage legislation, will be meeting on Thursday, June 21, starting at 9AM and on Friday, June 22, starting at 8:30 AM, in Room 322 of the Santa Fe Roundhouse to discuss the results of the Mathematica study. If you want to see real health care reform in NM, you should attend this meeting and make your views known. Public input will be accepted on both days.

Next Up: Interim Legislative Committee
The NM Legislative Interim Committee on Health and Human Services will consider the Mathematica report results at its meeting starting at 10 AM on June 25th in Room 322 of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Although no public input will be accepted, it's a good idea to show legislators there's strong public interest in reforming health care coverage by your attendance.

You can also find links to the final draft Mathematica report on the Insure New Mexico website, which also has information on the Governor's task force -- the Health Care for New Mexicans Committee.

It's critical that the powers that be hear your views on the future of health care coverage in New Mexico! If you can, please attend one or more of these important meetings.