Health Care Talk (HCTalk.com)

[Denver Dave]

The Health Security for
New Mexicans Campaign

To: Campaign Supporters
Date: February 24, 2011

Cost Analysis Bill Heads to House Floor

We are pleased to report that the house cost analysis bill (House Bill 257) passed the House Appropriations and Finance Committee yesterday and will now go to the house floor for a final vote!

Sponsored by Rep. Eleanor Chavez, HB 257 authorizes the Legislative Finance Committee to conduct a comparative cost analysis of health care reform options, including two types of insurance exchanges and a plan that insures most New Mexicans (like Health Security). Setting up an exchange without knowing the cost ramifications simply does not make sense.

To read the bill, click here.

If you have any questions, contact Josette (jhaddad@cableone.net or 505-771-8763) or Dana (dsmillen@msn.com or 505-269-3779).


--------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
The Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign, a statewide, nonpartisan coalition of over 145 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, 32 New Mexico counties and municipalities have passed resolutions in support of
the Health Security Act.

www.nmhealthsecurity.org