NMHCF Statement On Hearing Discussion Of Health Security Planning and Design Act

SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico’s Health Care Future issued the following statement regarding expected discussion of the Health Security Planning and Design Act today during a hearing of the state House Health and Humans Services Committee. The legislation would create a board to examine the implementation of the Health Security Plan a new, state government-controlled health insurance system.

“New Mexico’s Health Care Future remains committed to working together to ensure that every New Mexico resident has access to the affordable, high-quality health coverage and care they deserve. The best way to accomplish this is by building on and improving what’s working in health care, where private coverage, Medicare, and Medicaid work together – not starting over with an unaffordable, new state government-controlled health insurance system like the Health Security Plan. Most voters in New Mexico do not support this proposed one-size-fits-all system, are not willing to pay more to finance its costs, and are deeply concerned about its potential consequences on their access to quality care, coverage options, and New Mexico’s economy and state budget deficit. That is why, in forming any board to examine this issue, all stakeholders must be represented and the board must fully examine all fiscal and economic impacts of implementing the Health Security Plan.”

A new statewide poll shows that most New Mexico voters are satisfied with their current health coverage and a majority do not support creating a new state government-controlled health insurance system, such as the proposed Health Security Plan. The poll of 800 likely voters in New Mexico, which was conducted by Locust Street Group on behalf of New Mexico’s Health Care Future, found that lower health care costs is New Mexico voters’ top health care priority and most believe that lowering health care costs for everyone is more important than universal coverage. In fact, 79 percent of New Mexico voters are unwilling to pay more in health care costs and 70 percent are unwilling to pay more in taxes to finance the cost of the Health Security Plan.

The poll also revealed that voters are deeply concerned about how a state government health insurance system would impact access to quality care (79 percent), coverage (73 percent), and the state budget deficit (71 percent). Instead, most New Mexico voters want state lawmakers to focus on the economy and jobs, which ranked as the most important issue for the state government to address with 64 percent of voters choosing it as one of their top two issues. Only 39 percent of voters believe health care is among the two most important issues for state lawmakers to address.

• To view the poll’s top line findings, CLICK HERE.
• To view Locust Street Group’s analysis of the poll’s findings, CLICK HERE.
• To learn more about New Mexico’s Health Care Future, CLICK HERE.