By Michelle R. Welby
Governor's Office
SANTA FE— Health Care for All Campaign director Charlotte Roybal in a recent Albuquerque Journal column laid out a wish list for health-care reform and the need for a Health Care Authority.
I couldn't agree more— with one exception: Now is the time for real reform, not more discussion. The creation of an authority without other meaningful reform will accomplish little. We've studied this issue enough: bold action is required.
The Health Coverage Authority under Gov. Bill Richardson's HealthSOLUTIONS plan will reform the health-care system to ensure every New Mexican has the opportunity to access affordable, quality health-care coverage.
The governor's plan is based on five years of input and is the culmination years of incremental reform. It is multi-faceted, pragmatic, phased-in and fiscally responsible.
The plan incorporates what the Health Coverage for New Mexicans Committee asked to be addressed. It includes ideas from each of the health-coverage models the committee studied and is being proposed for the 2008 Legislature. If the Legislature passes this proposal:
The insurance industry will change the way it does business, by spending a minimum of 85 percent of premiums collected on direct services, covering individuals without exclusion of pre-existing conditions, and focusing more on preventive services, disease management, quality of care and cost containment.
Individuals and employers alike will participate.
An independent Health Coverage Authority will be created to serve as a single point of accountability; reduce duplicative bureaucracy by consolidating public sector programs and insurance pools; set standards for benefits, including preventive services; determine plan choices that count as "coverage"; and set affordability guidelines.
The Health Coverage Authority would be appointed by current and future governors and be nominated and/or confirmed by the Legislature. The authority would report to both the executive and legislative branches, yet keep its autonomy as an independent body.
New Mexico is in a good position to implement reform that would help the 400,000 New Mexicans who are without health-insurance coverage. Achieving universal coverage is not an easy task; otherwise it would have been accomplished years ago.
And now that we are so close, it is time to put aside our minor differences and work toward our common goal of getting health-care reform and universal coverage approved during this 2008 legislative session.
Michelle R. Welby is a senior policy adviser to Gov. Bill Richardson.
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