A homegrown solution for out-of-control health care costs
It's depressing. Health costs are rising - impacting patients, employers and providers. What can be done?
The Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign, a diverse coalition of 170 organizations and thousands of New Mexicans, has developed a homegrown solution. The Health Security Act would enable
Three independent studies concluded that this plan would dramatically slow health care cost increases - and not solely from the advantage of large enrollment numbers. There are countries that guarantee health coverage, spend far less than
Standardized health professional payment systems. (Instead of 20 different fees for the same procedure.)
Set budgets (global budgets) for hospitals, providing a secure revenue source. (No more pages of inexplicable charges. No surprise bills.)
A program that negotiates drug prices.
IT systems that provide a patient's medical history wherever they receive care.
One set of comprehensive covered services.
Surely, addressing these areas is critical to solving our health crisis.
What is
The Health Security Act, which sets out guidelines for the plan, does not provide details about how the plan will work. In 2021, the Legislature allocated funding to the Office of Superintendent
In 2022,
In May, Sen.
a global budgets program for hospitals
a standardized payment system for health professionals
a program that lowers drug costs
an inter-operational IT system
Based on statements by Toal and Human Services Secretary
While important, covering more people will not address the systemic problems of why costs (and premiums) are rising. It will not result in simplifying a complex system that frustrates providers and patients alike. Moreover, focusing on current health care access issues should not preclude simultaneously moving ahead with long-term systemic solutions.
Last year, OSI did an excellent job of hiring experts whose reports included options that should be pursued during this second year of design.
Unfortunately, there has been almost no discernible action on five of the six priority topics. (A request for proposals for a global budgeting study was released Sept. 30.)
The design process provides an opportunity for
Please ask lawmakers to support the Health Security Plan design process!
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