NM House Passes Health Care Authority Act

The NM House of Representatives passed HB 267, the Health Care Authority Act, by a 60-2 vote on Saturday. Sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, the bill would create an independent Health Care Authority charged with developing a comprehensive plan to achieve sustainable, accessible and affordable health care for New Mexicans by September 1, 2010. The plan would then be presented to the legislature and the Governor for approval. The bill goes next to the Senate Public Affairs Committee.

“This bill provides the legislature with a powerful tool to address comprehensive health care reform at both the state and federal level,” Stewart said in a statement released by Health Action New Mexco. “States that have a plan in place will be in a better position to respond as health care reform progresses at the federal level.”

Roxane Spruce Bly, Executive Director of Health Action New Mexico stated, “The Health Care Authority Act was assigned to three House committees and passed unanimously through all of them. Our Representatives are sending a strong message that they are responsive to their constituents and recognize that health care is a priority for New Mexicans.”

New Mexico has the 2nd highest number of uninsured residents in the country. A study completed in 2006 indicated that the cost of taking no action towards health care reform in New Mexico would result in a $2 billion increase in cost by 2011 and the number of uninsured residents would continue to rise. Steadily increasing health care costs place a significant burden on local businesses, further exacerbating the situation and directly impacting the State’s economy.

Health Action New Mexico leads the Health Care for All campaign, a coalition of thirteen non-profit organizations including New Mexico Voices for Children, New Mexico Conference of Churches, New Mexico Public Health Association, and St. Joseph Community Health. Representing consumers across the state, the Health Care for All Campaign is committed to finding ways to providing health care coverage for all people living in New Mexico and was instrumental in organizing grass-roots support for the bill.