Government
N.M. Legislature will have extra session for health care
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 3, 2008
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said he would call lawmakers back for a special session to continue work on health system reform and other priorities they failed to adopt in their one-month session that ended Feb. 14. Richardson proposed a bill, the Health Solutions New Mexico Act, that would require insurers to spend 85% of premiums on health care, individuals to have health insurance, and employers to contribute an amount to be determined to a state fund for health care. The bill also would create an authority to oversee state health programs and recommend ways to increase access to private health insurance, among other provisions. The House adopted the measure after removing the individual and employer mandates, but the Senate did not hold a hearing on the bill.
Richardson said the 400,000 uninsured in New Mexico deserve help. "Let's face it, the people of New Mexico expect more from us -- more than a budget to pay for state government and more than a package of pork projects. They expect us, as their elected leaders, to solve problems and remove obstacles that prevent them from enjoying access to quality health care," he said. It's not yet known when the special session will begin, a Richardson spokeswoman said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/03/gvbf0303.htm.
