Democracy for New Mexico

Acoma Pueblo Community Center Funded by ARRA-Rural Development Now Open

USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner (right) joined Acoma Pueblo Governor Chandler Sanchez and Congressman Harry Teague in dedicating Acoma’s new $13.1-million community building yesterday. The $12,609,600 loan and $500,000 grant to construct the new facility were made possible through funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

According to a statement released by Rural Development, the project is one of the largest ARRA-funded community facilities projects in the State of New Mexico. The funding is administered by USDA Rural Development’s Community Facility Program, which provides rural communities financing for these types of community buildings.

The 50,000-square-foot single story facility will house the Acoma Pueblo tribal administration offices and a new council chamber. The remainder of the building will include a health office and wellness facilities, a much needed gymnasium and a gathering place for community-wide functions. The new community center will serve the 5,000 Acoma Pueblo residents as well as surrounding tribes, communities and small villages covering many square miles of sparsely populated area.

During the dedication ceremonies, Brunner said, “USDA Rural Development is proud to be a partner in the construction of this facility. Recovery Act funds helped make this necessary project a reality. The new community center will provide a central location for a wide range of services needed by the residents of the Pueblo of Acoma.”

During a tour of the building, Brunner was shown the new health offices and wellness center. It was explained that this portion of the new facility is especially important to the residents of Acoma Pueblo because of the high incidence of diabetes and other ailments. The residents will now be able to visit one location for medical treatment which will lead to a healthier way of life.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development, and supports the creation of critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at any local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development’s web site.

Guest Blog by Sen. Dede Feldman: 10 Ways NM is Taking Advantage of Health Care Reform

This is a guest blog by State Senator Dede Feldman, who represents District 13 in Albuquerque in the New Mexico Legislature. Senator Feldman has long been dedicated to improving access to quality health care for all. She was selected by the White House to serve as a member of State Legislators for Health Reform, is Vice Chair of the Interim Legislative Health & Human Services Committee and serves as a member of the Interim Health Care Reform Working Group.

With only five months since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law, our state is moving to put the pieces in place, even if it comes at an awkward time when the budget is dire and a new administration is about to begin. We have already received over $40 million in grant funding -- in addition to the $20 million we received earlier to sustain our rural community health clinics. The money couldn’t come at a better time. Here’s what we’re up to.

1. Two state organizations are holding hearings and working to restructure insurance coverage here, beef up the workforce and take advantage of the many, many federal grants which will be available to both non-profits and government agencies from now until 2014, when the law goes into effect fully. One is the Governor’s Office of Health Reform. The other is the legislative working group created by Senate Joint Memorial 1 (SJM 1), which I sponsored in the past session. Debbie Armstrong, who heads up the NM High Risk Pool, chairs this group. It and has elicited lots of public participation and volunteer efforts. 

The next meeting of the working group is Thursday, September 2, in Room 322 of the State Capitol. The public is welcome to give comments. Click for more info about the working group.

2. We have a PLAN! New Mexico is one of only a few states that has a strategic plan. to implement health care reform. The plan, developed by the Governor’s Health Care Group is posted at http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/nhcr/nhcrlao.htm.

3. The Division of Insurance was awarded $1 million on Monday, August 16, to beef up its rate review process to conform to the new federal law. This is particularly significant in light of the BlueCross/Blue Shield rate hike. The Department aims to create a Consumer and Business Services Bureau to review rates, make filings public on its web site and seek legislation to consider companies’ surpluses, overall profitability, investment income and other factors when reviewing rates. Click for a chart summarizing how each state will use the new resources.

4. As of early August, about 3,500 seniors who have hit Medicare’s “Part D doughnut hole” and now must pay full price for their prescription drugs, got a tax-free $250 check in the mail to help pay for them. About 25,000 NM seniors will hit this gap in coverage this year. As they hit the upper limit, they will get a check. The new law continues to provide additional discounts for seniors in the next few years and will close the “doughnut hole “ completely by 2020.

5. New Mexico’s High Risk Pool for people who can’t currently get coverage because of pre-existing conditions opened its doors wider with $37.5 million from the federal government and a new program that will enable as many as 1,000 New Mexicans access to insurance for the first time. Currently about 20 have signed up. Many of these had pre-existing conditions like cancer or heart disease. Others are in the pipeline.

6. New Mexico has received a grant for $1 million for its home visiting program, which will enable nurses and community health workers to go into the homes of first time mothers to help develop good parenting skills. This will prevent domestic violence, special education expenses and get kids off to healthy start.

7. Funds for training nurses, doctors and primary care providers are a key element of the new bill. NM recently received approximately $700,000 for nursing programs, and applied for much more workforce development money. Provision of this support was an addition to the Affordable Care Act by our own Sen. Jeff Bingaman.

8. Doctors who treat Medicare patients will be getting up to $63,000 per practice over a six year period to speed the installation and use of electronic health records in their practices.

9. Community Health Clinics like First Choice, which have been treating the uninsured for years, received $21 million in stimulus funds, which they are using to build additions and meet the increased demand for health care.

10. New Mexico is applying for a $1 million planning grant to establish a strong state health insurance exchange with the help of stakeholders from many sectors.

This is a guest blog by Senator Dede Feldman. If you'd like to submit a piece for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link at the upper left-hand corner of the page.

Rep. Ben Ray Lujan's Espanola Drug Summit Sets the Stage for Unified Action

Yesterday, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03) met with members of the community in Espanola to talk about substance abuse in New Mexico. He was joined by a panel of experts that included elected officials, state health care and treatment providers, law enforcement officials and members of the community to discuss how to best fight substance abuse.

“Today I was proud to see our community standing together against this problem in our neighborhoods,” Rep. Lujan said at the summit. “This issue is very personal to everyone present today because substance abuse doesn’t just affect one person but penetrates our entire community. So to make an impact, we must work closely together to make sure that everyone -- from the people on the ground to the legislators in office -- is doing their part to fight this problem.”

According to Rep. Lujan's office, the summit focused on education, early prevention and taking a proactive approach to the problem. Community members at the summit emphasized that drug abuse is something that affects the entire community, and that was made clear by the stories of overdose and addiction told by those in attendance.

“It was a very productive discussion,” according to Herman Silva, a Santa Fe resident and a co-chair of the Interdiction Team, a team in Espanola that gathers together to overcome drug issues locally. “I think that having the panel and also hearing from the community, and maybe even the drug consumers, was great. They all seemed to agree that being proactive was the most important part.”

Rep. Lujan said he understands the longstanding substance abuse concerns facing our state and how they take a toll not only on the sufferer of the addiction but their family, friends and our society. He explained that he has fought to fund prevention and treatment programs and supported legislation in Congress that would focus on rehabilitation for young offenders.

“I am committed to the people of Northern New Mexico and of all New Mexico to working side by side in this fight against substance abuse,” Rep. Lujan said. “I’m proud I can walk away from this meeting knowing that we can move forward as a community to end this enduring problem.”

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).

NM Supreme Court Denies BCBS Request to Stop Hearing on Premium Rate Increase

Chalk up another one for folks insured under individual policies with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico’s (BCBSNM) -- at least for now. An evidentiary hearing on BCBSNM's double-digit insurance premium rate increase will proceed as planned after the New Mexico Supreme Court denied the company’s petition for a Writ of Mandamus on Wednesday. A statement released yesterday by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) explains what happened and what comes next.

The petition -- filed last month by BCBSNM -- requested that the Supreme Court prohibit the Superintendent of Insurance from proceeding with the planned evidentiary hearing regarding BCBSNM’s requested 21.3% insurance premium rate increase. The hearing was scheduled last month when interim Superintendent of Insurance Johnny L. Montoya issued an order suspending the April 26 settlement agreement brokered among the Division of Insurance staff, BCBSNM, the Attorney General’s Office and aggrieved party, Jody Neal-Post.

That agreement established a 21.3% rate increase for an estimated 40,000 BCBSNM individual plan customers. Montoya, however, opted to suspend the settlement agreement in order to ensure that the rates are justified and to bring much-needed transparency to the process.

“Because this increase coincides with very challenging financial times for nearly every New Mexican, it’s prudent for the Insurance Division and the citizens of this state to know exactly why such rates are warranted,” Montoya said after issuing his June 22 order suspending the settlement.

BCBSNM’s petition to the Supreme Court was filed shortly after Montoya decided to suspend the agreement.

Responding to the company’s request for the Writ, the Superintendent’s office and the New Mexico Attorney General’s office argued that the issuance of the Writ was inappropriate. On Wednesday, the court agreed and denied the petition. The Insurance Division was represented by Insurance Division Chief Legal Counsel David Barton while the AG’s office was represented by AG Gary King.

As a result of Wednesday’s decision, the evidentiary hearing is scheduled to proceed as planned. That hearing is set to commence at 9 AM on Wednesday, Aug. 25, in Apodaca Hall on the second floor of the PERA Building, 1120 Paseo de Peralta.

At the hearing, NMPRC staff will present an overview of how it reached its decision to approve the original rate increase request and BCBSNM representatives are expected to produce evidence and testimony to justify the 21.3% increases. The public is encouraged to attend the evidentiary hearing; written and oral public comment will be taken during the hearing.

NM PRC Appoints Insurance Industry Veteran John Franchini as Superintendent of Insurance

Yesterday, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) appointed long-time health insurance industry veteran John G. Franchini as New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance by a 4-1 vote. Consumer champion Jason Marks (District 1) was the only Commissioner to vote no.

The other finalists considered for the post were Albuquerque attorney Pete Dinelli; Alan Varela, former director of the state Worker’s Compensation board; Bruce Kohl, past NM Securities Division Director; and Alan Seeley, a member of the Insurance Division staff.

A statement released by the PRC pointed out that Franchini -- a New Mexico native -- boasts nearly four decades of insurance industry-related experience and said he looks to utilize that experience as he endeavors to move the NMPRC’s Division of Insurance forward.

“I’ve devoted the majority of my professional life to guaranteeing and protecting New Mexico policyholders’ rights with regards to their insurance,” Franchini said in a written statement. “As Superintendent of Insurance, I will make sure New Mexicans have the protection, cooperation and assistance of the Division of Insurance in handling their insurance questions and needs.

“The division will respond to consumer needs whenever we’re called into action,” Franchini continued. “I look forward to continuing my work on behalf of the state’s fine citizens; I’m thrilled to have this opportunity.”

Prior to his appointment, Franchini served as vice president of government and industry affairs for the New Mexico Mutual Group (2004-2010). Prior to that, he served as vice president of Brown & Brown of New Mexico, Inc. (1998-2002) and from 1984 to 1988 he served as president and owner of Franchini Consolidated Agency, Polson Mercer Insurance & Real Estate, Williams Consolidated, Chama Insurance Services, Consolidated Mortgage, Franchini Travel.

During the course of his 37-year tenure in the industry, Franchini has held numerous industry leadership positions -- experience he believes will be instrumental in carrying out the duties of his new position, according to the PRC.

The new superintendent received words of encouragement from members of the Commission shortly after the appointment was announced.

“I think John will be a good man and he will hit the ground running,” Commissioner Sandy Jones (Dist. 5) said. “I wish him the best.”

Commission Vice Chairman Jerome D. Block said he’s confident that New Mexicans’ well-being will be well protected as that is one of Franchini’s priorities.

Commission Chairman David W. King and Commissioner Theresa Becenti-Aguilar echoed the sentiments of their colleagues and wished Franchini well in his new position.

Franchini, who holds a BA in history from Creighton University in Omaha, will earn $100,000 annually and is expected to begin his tenure in mid-August. He was one of five finalists selected by a 15-member search committee that included a broad cross section of New Mexico professionals. The search process began in mid-May and culminated with this week’s appointment.

New Report Shows 88.9% of NM Small Businesses Eligible for Health Care Tax Credits

As the public gets more familiar with the provisions included in the health insurance reform package signed into law by President Obama this year, the more favorable their views on the legislation are becoming. As a variety of the plan's elements start to kick in, Americans are getting a truer picture of its many benefits than the critical and inaccurate right-wing echo chamber has provided ever since the crazy town halls last summer. Now that more facts are emerging about who will be helped and how, expect the plan's popularity to continue rising.

For instance, we now know that more than 88.9 percent of New Mexico small businesses with fewer than 25 employees will be eligible this year for tax credits to help pay the cost of necessary employee health insurance coverage, according to a new report issued by the consumer health organization Families USA and small business advocacy group Small Business Majority. Click to read the complete report (pdf).

Our nation has taken a major step forward in improving the quality and affordability of health care for all Americans, of all ages, and all incomes -- especially working middle class families. The tax credit program is a key element of this new, more fair health care system. The program targets small employers with up to 25 workers. In New Mexico, this means 24,800 small businesses will qualify. Nationally, more than 4 million small businesses -- 83.7 percent -- are eligible in 2010 for the credit according to the report.

Senator Jeff Bingaman recently weighed in on the benefits. “New Mexico’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy. The new health insurance reform law will for the first time unite small businesses to negotiate for health insurance that is both meaningful and affordable. It also will provide many of our small businesses with tax credits to further reduce costs,” Bingaman said in a written statement. “I believe this is an important step toward expanding health care coverage to more New Mexicans.”

The report, “A Helping Hand for Small Businesses: Health Insurance Tax Credits,” also notes that 5,500 New Mexico small businesses will qualify for the maximum tax credit of 35 percent. These are businesses that employ 10 or fewer workers who earn an average wage of less than $25,000, and traditionally have the most difficult time affording insurance.

“Small business owners face unique challenges in trying to provide necessary health care coverage for their smaller numbers of employees. From the local grocer to the hardware store down the street, these individuals will now have substantial help,” said Barbara Webber, Executive Director of Health Action New Mexico.

“Specifically, in 2008, employers with fewer than 10 workers paid on average, nearly $350 more for each employee’s health insurance than firms with 50 or more workers,” Webber said. “It’s no surprise, therefore, that less than half of these smallest businesses offered coverage to their employees. This new tax credit should certainly help to improve that record.”

“There’s been a lot of speculation about how many small businesses will qualify for tax credits, and this report clears up a lot of those questions,” said John Arensmeyer, founder and CEO of Small Business Majority. “We now have real numbers that show the vast majority of small businesses in New Mexico will qualify for tax credits under the new law. That’s huge.”

"As a small business owner I want to do more than create jobs, I want to create careers. Tax credits for offering health insurance to my employees, along with better accountability in the insurance industry are two important aspects of this plan that will help us reach that goal,” said David Edwards, Owner of New Mexico Tea Company.

Small businesses are financially less able to provide health coverage for their workers than larger businesses. Nationally, 72 percent of small businesses with 10 to 25 workers offer health coverage, while more than 95 percent of businesses with 50 or more workers offer coverage. The new law aims to redress that imbalance with tax credits, offering the maximum credit of 35 percent to the smallest companies. Nonprofit employers also benefit, with a maximum credit of 25 percent. As the number of employees and their average wages rise, the tax credit is reduced on a sliding scale.

To further provide assistance, the law allows employers to count two half-time workers as one full-time worker, meaning that an employer with mainly part-time workers will be able to qualify for the tax credit. The report notes that the health reform law contains additional provisions to aid small businesses now and in coming years. Among those provisions:

• Starting this month, small business owners are able to view all existing health coverage options in their state on a user-friendly website.

• Starting in 2014, small employers will be able to purchase quality coverage with strong consumer protections through state-based health coverage marketplaces called “exchanges.”

• Starting in 2014, small employers will be eligible for tax credits up to 50 percent, or 35 percent for nonprofits, to cover their workers with policies obtained through the state exchanges.

• Starting in 2014, insurers will be prohibited from charging small employers higher premiums based on their workers’ pre-existing conditions.

Biden, Romer Release New Analysis of Impacts of Recovery Act: In NM Taxes Cut for 700K Famillies, 19,000 New Jobs

Vice President Joe Biden and Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer are unveiling today the Council of Economic Advisers’ latest quarterly report on the economic impact of the Recovery Act. The report finds that the Recovery Act is already responsible for 2.5 to 3.6 million -- or about 3 million -- jobs and that for every government dollar invested in Recovery Act programs designed to leverage outside capital, private companies and others are co-investing with nearly three times as much outside investment.

In New Mexico alone, the Recovery Act has cut taxes for 700,000 working families and helped to spur 19,000 new jobs, according to a statement released by the White House.

The report can be viewed in full HERE (pdf).

The Council of Economic Advisers Fourth Quarterly Report on the Economic Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Key Findings

The Recovery Act has had a significant impact on employment and economic growth:

• As of the second quarter of 2010, the Recovery Act has raised employment by between 2.5 and 3.6 million jobs. This puts us well on track to reach the 3.5 million jobs benchmark by the end of this year.

• CEA estimates that the Recovery Act has raised the level of GDP as of the second quarter of 2010 by between 2.7 and 3.2 percent. These estimates are very similar to those of a wide range of other analysts, including the Congressional Budget Office.

• Outlays in areas such as infrastructure, clean energy, and communications technology increased by roughly 50 percent between the first and second quarters of 2010.

The Recovery Act is making investments that benefit the economy today and far into the future:

• $319 billion in the Act is dedicated to “public investments” that are not only “helping the economy to recover and put Americans back to work today, they are also making investments in areas such as clean energy, health information technology, roads, and the skills of our workers that will benefit the economy far into the future.” To date, two-thirds of these funds have been obligated and more than one-quarter have been outlayed. CEA estimates that the $86.3 of outlays has already created or saved more than 800,000 jobs as of the second quarter of 2010, an increase of 30 percent over the first quarter.

The Recovery Act is leveraging significant investment from private companies and other entities:

• A subset of these public investments, $95 billion, is leveraging external funds from private companies and other entities. For each of these dollars invested, $4.00 of economic activity is supported – meaning $286 billion of external investments are partnering with Recovery Act funds to support $382 billion into total project activity. The benefits of this “co-investment” include:

• Jump-starting private investment: With credit markets still recovering from the financial crisis, the Recovery Act is directly stimulating $153 billion in private sector investment alone.

Aligning economic incentives: As private investors use significant amounts of their own money in Recovery Act projects, they put “skin in the game” and have more incentive to use funding responsibly.

• Increasing overall support: The federal government has a responsibility to use tax dollars as effectively and efficiently as possible. Taxpayers get more value when those dollars are leveraged by private investment.

Clean energy is one of the areas generating the most Recovery Act outside investment leverage:

• By sector, the largest amount of total activity supported is in clean energy, where a federal contribution of $46 billion will partner with $107 billion to support over $150 billion in total investments in energy efficiency, renewable generation, research, and other areas.

• One such area is the Department of Energy’s smart grid program, which will foster smarter energy use, increasing the transparency of how energy is used. Spurred by a $4.5 billion Recovery Act investment, the private sector invested an additional $6 billion in smart grid projects, bringing the total investment to over $10 billion.

• For example, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have been awarded $88 million for a regional smart grid demonstration project. Bolstered by $90 million in matches from utilities and technology companies, the $178 million project features 12 utilities and 15 test sites and the states estimate it will create or retain 1,500 jobs across the five states.

Recovery Act Build America Bonds are also generating significant outside investment, while saving state and local governments billions:

• In economic development, a Recovery Act contribution of approximately $14 billion is partnering with over $130 in outside investment to support over $145 billion in economic activity. Build America Bonds (BABs) make up the majority of that activity.

• As of June 30, 2010, BABs with a total face value of $115 billion have been issued in 1,446 separate issues in 49 states, DC and 2 territories. BABs allow municipalities to originate loans with 35 percent of the interest paid by the Federal government. The loans are attractive to a variety of investors, such as pension funds, who do not benefit from the tax-free status of traditional municipal bonds. By bringing in more sources of funding, the bonds lower interest costs for issuers. The Treasury recently calculated that the bonds have saved state and local governments about $12 billion.

• For example, in Minneapolis the Hennepin County Board raised $27 million through a BABs issuance, which it is combining with state bonds and county funding to finance the $80 million Lowry Avenue bridge reconstruction. Estimated savings to Minneapolis taxpayers is between $3 and $5 million.

Building construction and environmental cleanup and preservation projects are also benefiting from the leverage effects of the Recovery Act.

• Other sectors covered in the report include environmental cleanup and preservation, where an $11 billion investment is supporting over $21 billion of economic activity; construction of buildings, where a $6.4 billion investment is supporting $29.4 billion; and several more.

Recovery Act leverage programs are bringing private capital off the sidelines and keeping clean energy projects alive during tough economic times:

• In one case study, CEA examines the Section 1603 Energy Cash Assistance Program, to see if this co-investment would have happened without Recovery Act funds in the game.

• By looking at previous years in which no national investment was spurring private sector activity, compared to years in which there was a national investment, CEA projects that wind capacity additions in 2009 would have been cut by more than half without the Recovery Act and other incentives.

• In 2009, 10,000 MW of wind capacity additions were installed, and the Recovery Act and other incentives were responsible for over 6,000 MW of those additions.

First Federal Health Care Program Launches in NM: Enrollment in High Risk Insurance Pool Begins 7/1

New Mexico will begin providing affordable health insurance coverage for high-risk uninsured New Mexicans through the first program to emerge from the recent federal health care reform act, according to a statement released by Governor Bill Richardson's office today.

“New Mexico is pleased to be able to offer another option of affordable health coverage through the new federal high-risk insurance pool program,” said Richardson. “We are fortunate to have a good existing high-risk pool that will now use federal funds to expand its services to more New Mexicans.”

Beginning Thursday, July 1, 2010 the New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) in cooperation with the New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool (NMMIP) will contract with the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (USHSD) to operate a temporary federal high-risk insurance pool program in New Mexico.

The high-risk pool will assist people with a pre-existing medical condition who have been uninsured for at least six months. Additionally, a person with low income may also qualify for a subsidized premium. The temporary pool will expire in 2014, when the new federal law bars the denial of insurance coverage for medical reasons across all health plans in the country.

“We will begin enrollment in the new federal pool on July 1st with an August 1st coverage date,” said Deborah Armstrong, NMMIP’s Executive Director. “Thanks to Governor Richardson, New Mexico has been out in front nationally to capitalize on the estimated $37 million in federal funds for the new pool,” added Armstrong.

New Mexico has had a high risk pool for decades. The New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool currently serves more than 8,000 New Mexico residents who are denied adequate health insurance and are considered uninsurable. NMMIP is considered one of the most efficient, affordable and comprehensive health insurance pools in the nation, according to the Richardson administration.

“While the Human Services Department covers more than 540,000 people through Medicaid and other publicly funded programs, there are still many who do not qualify for our programs,” said Katie Falls, HSD Cabinet Secretary. “We are pleased to be partnering with the NMMIP to give further access to coverage solutions for New Mexicans who are in desperate need of health care services.”

“We’re a ‘shovel ready’ program that was well equipped to manage this new federal funding and to assist the Governor in his intent to encourage health care coverage and access for as many of our citizens as possible,” said Farmington City Councilman Jason Sandel, the Vice Chairman of the New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool.

Do You Qualify?
To see if you qualify for the new federal high-risk pool or for additional information on the existing New Mexico high-risk pool please visit NMMIP’s website at http://www.nmmip.org or contact the NMMIP Office at (505) 424-7105 or Toll Free at (866) 622-4711.

Lt. Gov Candidate Joe Campos Endorsed by NM EMS and Trauma Viability Committee

Democratic Lt. Governor candidate Joe Campos has been endorsed by the NM EMS and Trauma Viability Committee. The Committee cited Rep. Campos' help with trying to get sustained, adequate funding for EMS and trauma services statewide, and his sponsorship of a bill to do just that:

Representative Joe Campos stepped forward and agreed to be that advocate and sponsor. He worked with us to develop House Bill 99 and carried it through several committees and finally to the House Floor, not Once but Twice where it failed by Three votes.

You can read the letter from the Committee endorsing Rep. Campos, as well as his response, below the break.

To: New Mexico EMS and Trauma Communities From: NM EMS and Trauma Viability Committee

Last year after the tremendous response at the Region 3 conference in mailing letters to our legislators, the EMS and Trauma Viability Committee was developed to take our message to Santa Fe to obtain additional funding for the Emergency Medical Services and Trauma facilities which serve our friends, families and citizens. Our Fund Act had not increased since 1998 and remained at about $3.85 million dollars for the past 12 years. In 1998 those funds were distributed to 316 services but our EMS community has grown to over 450 without an increase in the general fund dollars and operating costs have significantly increased in those 12 years. In addition, the Trauma Authority funds were being cut at a time when our Trauma designated hospitals were expanding which was threatening the progress that was being made across the State.

We knew we had many obstacles to overcome including the State being hundreds of millions of dollars in the Red, State revenues shrinking, the Democrats and Republicans split on tax increases versus major cuts to the existing budgets, but we came together with the three Regions, the Statewide Advisory Committee, our partners in EMS for many years, the Trauma Authority members and the support of the Secretary of Health to try and accomplish this huge task.

We attended legislative committee meetings across the State and educated them about our need. We developed a plan to add a less than 1% fee on property and vehicle insurance to raise approximately $16 million dollars to double and replace the current General Funds that were coming from the State and return those dollars to the State treasury. This new designated and sustained funding would then support the EMS agencies and Trauma hospitals caring for our citizens into the future.

However, the pivotal point in the plan was to have a dedicated legislator to sponsor a bill to carry our plan forward. At the Region 3 Conference in Ruidoso in 2009, Representative Joe Campos stepped forward and agreed to be that advocate and sponsor. He worked with us to develop House Bill 99 and carried it through several committees and finally to the House Floor, not Once but Twice where it failed by Three votes. It was a huge effort by countless Emergency Medical Technicians, Physicians, Friends, Family and you to help us get that far. Joe worked with his legislators, behind the scenes and spent countless hours during the short session to carry this message.

We have regrouped and our planning to move forward again to obtain this essential funding but recognize a key factor is the support and endorsement of the Executive office. To accomplish this critical step the EMS and Trauma Viability Committee members listed below request your support to Elect Joe Campos as Lt Governor of New Mexico so he can again lead this effort. He spent the last year supporting us during these very tough times and now is the time for the EMS and Trauma Communities to Support Joe Campos.

We will be back in Santa Fe this winter and need Joe Campos there as Lt. Governor with us. We need your support for Joe along with your friends and family to vote for him to help secure our EMS/Trauma funding.

The EMS and Trauma Viability Committee support Joe Campos for Lt. Governor.

James S. Stover, Chairman Dr. Dale Kester, Vice Chairman Donald McNutt, Member Jan Elliott, Member Dr. Craig Rhyne, Member Tim Zaqorski, Member Jerome Haskie, Member Dr. Philip Froman, Member Carl Gilmore, Member

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Chairman Jim Stover or Vice-Chairman Dale Kester, MD, via phone or email. All NM and EMS Trauma Viability Committee

Vote JOE CAMPOS June 1st for a Better EMS and Trauma System in NM!

Joe Campos responded to the endorsement,

"I am very pleased by the endorsement of the New Mexico Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Viability Committee which represents over 8,000 emergency medical workers here in New Mexico.

In this environment of concern about rising healthcare costs, it is self-evident that early intervention and early response to an emergency can prevent catastrophic health consequences that can incur staggering costs. An efficient cost effective healthcare system must include early emergency intervention and response.

In November of 2007, the Governor's Task Force on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) published the results of their study. The study found that 'New Mexico's EMS Regions are underfunded, unable to adequately provide their vital regional EMS infrastructure support.' A striking fact is that 55% of the EMS organizations are operated and staffed by volunteers and yet the volunteers are not getting the support they need to enable their volunteer services. And when these EMS organizations do not get support, that impacts their ability to respond.

I sponsored House Bill 99 to support EMS in order to ensure that emergency services are available when New Mexican families are in need. As lieutenant governor, I will again take up the cause of adequately funding emergency medical services and I will use my influence to rally support within the legislature to do the right thing for New Mexico families."