House Appropriations Hearing Coming Up

HB 203 Hearing in House Appropriations This Week (We Hope!)

We expect the Health Security Planning & Design Board Act (HB 203) to be heard in the House Appropriations & Finance Committee this week, possibly as soon as tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon.

And we have some good news to share! Funding for HB 203 has been secured and will be in the "junior" budget bill. That means that the appropriation included in HB 203 is no longer needed and can be removed during the Appropriations Committee hearing.

The committee agendas are posted online just one day in advance—often late in the evening—so we don't have much advance notice of when bills will be heard. We'll let you know as soon as HB 203 is on the committee's agenda. (Any new information will also be posted on the gold bar at the top of the home page.)

Because HB 203 may be heard as early as tomorrow, if you haven't already called your legislator, please call TODAY! See details below.

Just a reminder: HB 203 will set up a board to develop the details of the Health Security Plan, which will automatically provide guaranteed, comprehensive health care coverage to most New Mexicans.

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Legislative Update on Thursday (03/04), 7:00-8:15 PM

Our next legislative update via Zoom is planned for this Thursday, March 4. Hopefully by then HB 203 will have been heard—and passed—by House Appropriations. Join us on Thursday for the latest.

Register now!

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Call Your Representative on the Appropriations Committee Today

If your representative is on the Appropriations & Finance Committee, please call them to ask them to vote for HB 203. You can also add that the funding for HB 203 is in “junior”—Appropriations Committee members are particularly concerned with funding.

If you can't get through on the phone, please send an email with the subject line "Vote yes on HB 203 (Health Security)" and just one or two sentences about why you support the Health Security Plan and want to see the development process begin.

Make sure to note that you live in your representative's district—legislators pay more attention to their constituents!

Please also reach out to friends and relatives, as they may live in one of the following representatives' districts, even if you don't. These calls can have a real impact on legislators' votes.

If you're not sure who your representative is, find out here.

Legislative Update: Thurs (2/25) via Zoom

Zoom Update on Thursday Evening, 7:00-8:15 PM

We've now reached the halfway point in the legislative session.

Join us this Thursday (Feb. 25) for an update on the Health Security Planning & Design Board Act (HB 203) and the legislative session—what's happened so far and what we can expect in the next four weeks.

Register today!

Where Is the Health Security Bill Now?

After passing the House Health & Human Services Committee on Feb. 17, HB 203 will be heard next in the House Appropriations & Finance Committee, its second and last committee assignment in the House.

Appropriations & Finance wrapped up the budget bill (HB 2) today and will start hearing the bills assigned to the committee on Wednesday. It’s possible that HB 203 will be heard toward the end of this week, although the fact that the committee is not meeting on Tuesday makes it less likely.

Health Security Bill Passes First Committee!

Health & Human Services Committee Votes to Pass HB 203

The Health Security Planning & Design Board Act (HB 203) was considered yesterday morning in the House Health & Human Services Committee. While the bill was second on the agenda, it was heard first—spurring an emergency email alert from us shortly after the meeting began!

After wonderful public testimony and a lively discussion by committee members, the bill passed by a vote of 8 to 2.

Voted For HB 203
Rep. Deborah A. Armstrong
Rep. Phelps Anderson
Rep. Brittney Barreras
Rep. Karen Bash
Rep. Joanne J. Ferrary
Rep. Marian Matthews
Rep. Roger Montoya
Rep. Liz Thomson

Voted Against HB 203
Rep. Stefani Lord
Rep. Luis Terrazas

Absent (Excused)
Rep. Gail Armstrong

As the main sponsor of the bill, Rep. Debbie Armstrong introduced HB 203 in the committee. A poll was then taken of the 80 people on the Zoom meeting—86% supported the bill!

When those in opposition began speaking, it became clear who the remaining 14% were: the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce and insurance industry lobbyists.

The testimony in support of HB 203—your testimony—was amazing! Thoughtful, convincing, and heartfelt . . . and all impressively delivered in one-minute segments. Speakers ranged from nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and mental health professionals to farmers and small business owners, from everyday citizens to diverse organizations.

New Mexicans from Gallup to Silver City to Las Cruces to Las Vegas raised their (virtual) hands to talk. We heard moving personal stories about how the Health Security Plan would help, and economic, social, and practical arguments for why HB 203 is the right path to take. New Mexico Voices for Children, AARP, the Bernalillo County Community Health Council, and the American Association of University Women were just a few of the organizations that testified in support.

To those of you who joined the Zoom meeting yesterday, thank you! If you weren't able to be there, a recording is available on the legislative website.

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What Happens Next?

Now that HB 203 has passed its first committee, the bill's passage needs to be reported to the full House of Representatives. This will happen later today, during what's known as a floor session. To find out more about how a bill moves through the legislature, check out our legislative flyer.

HB 203 will then move on to its final House committee, Appropriations & Finance.

The Appropriations & Finance Committee is currently busy with the state's budget bill, HB 2. We'll let you know as soon as the Health Security bill is scheduled to be heard.

In the meantime, take a look at the 19 members of the House Appropriations & Finance Committee and see if your representative is among them. (If you're not sure who your representative is, you can find out here.) We'll need lots of calls before the hearing!

HB 203 Hearing Rolled Over to Wed. 02/17

Health Security Hearing Moved to Wednesday (Feb. 17)

The House Health & Human Services Committee meets via Zoom on February 15.

The Health Security Planning & Design Board Act (HB 203) was fifth on the House Health & Human Services Committee agenda yesterday, but the committee only made it through three bills. The remaining bills, including HB 203, were shifted to Wednesday's meeting. (Morning committees usually try to end before 1:30, when the afternoon committees begin.)

HB 203 is second on the agenda for Wednesday. Because the bill is early on the agenda, it has a much better chance of being heard.

HB 203 will set up a board to develop the details of the Health Security Plan, which will automatically provide guaranteed, comprehensive health care coverage to most New Mexicans.

Join the Meeting on Wednesday Morning via Zoom

The Health & Human Services Committee meeting begins at 8:30 AM on Wednesday. Since the Health Security bill is agenda item #2, we encourage you to join the meeting shortly after it starts.

We'll also keep you updated on the committee's progress via the gold bar at the top of this website's home page.

After HB 203 is introduced in committee by the sponsors, a Zoom poll will be conducted to see how many in the audience are for the bill and how many are against. Please be there to participate in the Zoom poll!

To join the meeting, click on this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89853256841. Or join by phone: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 (Webinar ID: 898 5325 6841).

While you can watch the committee meeting via the legislature's webcast, you will need to join via Zoom to participate in the poll or to speak.

Tips for Public Comment:

If you'd like to speak in support of the bill, make sure you keep it short—a maximum of 1 minute (they have timers!)

• Think about how the bill's passage will make a difference for you, someone you care about, or the whole state. Then write your thoughts down in advance so you'll have something to refer to while you're speaking

• Practice what you're going to say, and remember that you need to limit your remarks to no more than 1 minute.

• HB 203 will set up a board to develop the details of the Health Security Plan. You could talk about how the Health Security Plan would affect you, and that we need to pass HB 203 now to get started on working out all the details.

HB 203 Hearing on Monday 02/15

Updated 02.14.21

HB 203 Scheduled for Monday Morning (Feb. 15) Hearing

The Health Security Planning & Design Board Act (HB 203) is on Monday’s agenda in the House Health & Human Services Committee.

The meeting starts at 8:30 AM, and HB 203 is now #5 on the agenda. (Monday's meeting will begin with two cannabis bills that were held over from Saturday's meeting.)

HB 203 will set up a board to develop the details of the Health Security Plan, which will automatically provide guaranteed, comprehensive health care coverage to most New Mexicans.

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Participate via Zoom on Monday!

The committee meeting, held via Zoom, begins at 8:30 AM on Monday, and the Health Security bill is agenda item #5. That means it's hard to tell exactly when the hearing on the bill will begin.

You can join the meeting periodically to see where the committee is in the agenda, but we'll also keep you updated on the committee's progress via the gold bar at the top of our home page.

The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89853256841. Or join by phone: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128. The webinar ID is 898 5325 6841.

After the bill is introduced in committee, a Zoom poll will be conducted to see how many in the audience are for the bill and how many are against. Please be there to participate in the Zoom poll!

If you'd like to also speak in support of HB 203, here are some tips for public comment:

• Think about how the bill's passage will make a difference for you, someone you care about, or the whole state. Then write your thoughts down so you'll have something to refer to while you're speaking.

• Practice what you're going to say in advance, and keep it short: you’ll need to limit your remarks to no more than 1 minute (they have timers!).

• Remember that HB 203 will set up a board to develop the details of the Health Security Plan. You could talk about how the Health Security Plan would affect you, and that we need to pass HB 203 now to get started on working out all the details.

HB 203 in Committee Next Week

HB 203 Update

The Health Security Planning & Design Board Act (HB 203) should be heard in its first committee, House Health & Human Services, sometime next week.

We'll let you know as soon as we know which day!

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Making Your Voice Heard in a Virtual Session

While the state capitol is closed to the public, New Mexicans from across the state can participate in the 2021 legislative session via Zoom. This means that no matter where you are, you can take part in committee hearings and share your opinions.

How are hearings being conducted in this virtual world? Since every committee chair is doing things slightly differently, we'll focus on the process in the Health & Human Services Committee:

1. The bill is presented to the committee. The bill sponsor, often along with a chosen expert, speaks about what the proposed legislation will do.

2. A Zoom poll is conducted to count how many in the audience are for the bill and how many are against. This is the first way to have your voice heard!

3. Public testimony is given. This is the second way to have your voice heard!

4. The committee members discuss the bill.

5. The committee members vote on the bill.

► Participate in the Zoom Poll!

We'll be asking all of our supporters to join the committee's Zoom meeting when HB 203 is scheduled to be heard so they can indicate their support of the bill through the poll. The committee needs to see that there is tremendous public support for Health Security!

►Public Comment

Testifying in favor of HB 203 is another way to let the committee members know how you feel. Not everyone wants to speak. If you do, here are our suggestions:

• Think about how the bill's passage will positively impact you, someone you care about, or the whole state. Then write your thoughts down so you'll have something to refer to while you're speaking.

• Practice what you're going to say in advance, and limit your remarks to no more than 1 minute.

• Remember that HB 203 will set up a board to develop the details of the Health Security Plan. You could talk about how the Health Security Plan would affect you, and that we need to pass HB 203 now to get started on working out all the details.

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Preparing to Contact Your Legislators

What's the first step in contacting your legislators? Making sure you know who they are! Type your home address into the legislature's Find Your Legislator tool, grab a sticky note, and post your representative's and senator's names and district numbers on your refrigerator door or another obvious place.

If your representative is on the Health & Human Services Committee, we'll be asking you to contact them as soon as we know which day HB 203 will be heard.

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In the Meantime . . .

Check out this op-ed from Las Cruces resident Peter Goodman, which appeared in Sunday's Las Cruces Sun-News.

"A friend says, 'It's too big for New Mexico.' But it isn't. As mentioned, we don't move forward unless the detailed design satisfies both the Legislature and the governor. That's a limited investment for a possibly huge payoff. Meanwhile, millionaire CEOs of insurance companies get richer off our timidity."

9 Provider Groups Urge Legislators to Pass Health Security

HB 203 Update

The Health Security Planning & Design Board Act (HB 203) was introduced last week. Yay!

HB 203 sponsor Rep. Debbie Armstrong has told us that the bill will not be heard until next week at the earliest. It will first be heard in her committee, House Health & Human Services. It will then go to House Appropriations & Finance.

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9 Health Care Provider Organizations Ask Our Legislators to Support Health Security

Nine New Mexico provider organizations (with thousands of members!) wrote an open letter to our legislators, urging them to support the 2021 Health Security bill.

We so appreciate these organization’s public support of Health Security!

• NM Public Health Association

• NM Pediatric Society

• NM Nurse Practitioner Council

• NM Society for Acupuncture and Asian Medicine

• Psychiatric Medical Association of NM

• NM Pharmacists Association

• The Committee of Interns and Residents, UNM

• NM Podiatric Medical Association

• NM Counseling Association

The letter has now been sent—in electronic and paper form—to every single one of our state legislators.

It also appeared in Sunday's Las Cruces Sun-News, and we anticipate publication in additional papers this week.

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New Member Organizations

A big welcome to our newest member organizations: the New Mexico Counseling Association, which encompasses a broad spectrum of groups in the field of professional counseling, and the New Mexico Chapter of the Scholars Strategy Network, a national organization of researchers who work to apply research to policy.

We're happy to have you as part of our coalition!

If your organization would like a virtual presentation on Health Security, please contact Dana Millen, our education & outreach coordinator.

HB 203 introduced!

The 2021 Health Security Bill Has Been Introduced!

On Thursday, the Health Security Planning and Design Board Act, a 6-page bill to start developing the details of the Health Security Plan, was introduced in the state legislature. The bill’s sponsors are Reps. Deborah Armstrong, Tara Lujan, and Patricia Roybal Caballero. We're excited to finally have a bill!

The bill number is House Bill 203, or HB 203 for short.

HB 203 has been assigned to the House Health and Human Services Committee, which Rep. Armstrong chairs, and the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.

We expect the first hearing on the bill to take place sometime next week.

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If you haven't had a chance to look at our legislative process flyer, there's no time like the present!

This is also a great time to make sure you know who your legislators are. We'll be sending out information soon on how and when to contact your legislators and how and when to sign up to speak in committee hearings.

Preparing for the Health Security Bill

We’re hoping to have the 2021 legislation—the Health Security Planning & Design Board Act—this week. We'll let you know when it's finalized.

As soon as Rep. Debbie Armstrong introduces the bill in the House, it will get a bill number and then be assigned to committees. We'll keep you posted about committee hearings and how—and when—to contact your legislators.

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Health Security Legislative Update This Thursday

Thursday, January 28, 7:00-8:30 PM

At this Zoom meeting, we'll be talking about what's in the Health Security Planning and Design Board Act and how a bill becomes law.

Register today!

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Prioritizing Health Security

As the legislative session starts off, your legislators may be reaching out to you about legislative priorities. Remember to include Health Security!

Last Friday, a dedicated Health Security supporter emailed us to say:

I have just finished filling out “constituent surveys” for my representative and senator. Both surveys asked for opinions on some specific priorities but make no mention of the Health Security Planning and Design Board bill, so I put it in on the open-ended questions.

I assume that other state senators and representatives are sending out similar surveys and adding up the results. It would be great to make sure that Health Security supporters fill out surveys highlighting the Health Security Planning and Design Board bill, so that it gets tallied up as a priority.

We agree. Make sure your senator and representative know that Health Security is your priority!

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Health Security in the News

Listen as Campaign education and outreach coordinator Dana Millen talks about Health Security with New Mexico state auditor Brian Colón on his show "Cafecito con Colón" (recorded Jan. 16, 2021).

Read the Sierra County Sun op-ed on Health Security written by Campaign board member and Sierra County resident Veronique De Jaegher (published Jan. 15, 2021).

For more Health Security coverage, check out our In the Media page.

Legislative Session Starts Tomorrow!

“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman.”

On this day, we start with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King spoke these words almost 55 years ago, on March 25, 1966, at the second convention of the Medical Committee for Human Rights in Chicago. Unfortunately, as COVID-19 has made all too clear, injustice in health care access and health outcomes continues to be a huge problem. The Health Security Plan seeks to address this.

2021 Legislation: Health Security Planning and Design Board Act

These last few months, we’ve been working closely with Rep. Debbie Armstrong and Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino on the 2021 Health Security bill.

The Health Security Act will not be introduced this year; instead, the Health Security Planning and Design Board Act will begin the next phase of creating our own health plan that covers most New Mexicans. This legislation establishes a process to start developing the details of the Health Security Plan.

Rep. Debbie Armstrong, Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, and Sen. Bobby Gonzales are the co-sponsors. The bill will start in the house and, once passed, will move on to the senate.

The bill is not quite finished, but Rep. Armstrong expects to be able to introduce it soon. We will, of course, let you know when the legislation is publicly available.

The Health Security Planning and Design Board Act will establish an 11-person board of experts whose sole role is to develop the most effective design for the many elements of the Health Security Plan. There are numerous issues to address that were not spelled out in the Health Security Act, such as how providers and health facilities will be paid, how the bulk purchasing of drugs program will function, and how the appeals process will work for consumers, providers, and health facilities.

The board will be transparent, seek public input, and have the authority to form advisory committees and hire consultants.

Roughly two years later, the Health Security Commission (the 15-member geographically representative body that will run the Health Security Plan) will take over and complete the design process. A cost analysis will then have to be performed of the plan as designed. (The legislature will have to approve legislation to create the Commission, as well as to enable the Plan to begin enrollment.)

NM Legislature Convenes Tomorrow

The 2021 legislative session begins Tuesday at noon. While much will be different this year, the underlying legislative process remains the same. Check out our legislative process flyer for some basics about the legislative process—and for some of what goes on behind the scenes.

In past years, you have mobilized to make your voices heard. You've called your legislators’ offices at the capitol or visited in person to talk to them. You've attend committee hearings in a show of support or stood up to testify on behalf of Health Security.

Because of the pandemic, we will have to use different ways, like email, to connect with our legislators in the next 60 days. Right now, personal letters to legislators are a powerful tool.

As the session progresses, we'll be giving you guidance on how to be most effective in contacting your legislators and how to testify (virtually) during committee hearings.

January Zoom Meetings

Join us this Thursday, January 7, 7:00-8:30 PM, for a Health Security Basics info session. This Zoom meeting provides an overview of the Health Security Plan and the 2021 legislation, with time for your questions.

What are the main components of the Health Security Plan? Who will be covered? What health care services will be covered? Get the basics—or refresh your memory—on Thursday. Register now.

More meetings!

Tuesday, January 12, 7:00-8:30 PM: Health Security Basics
An overview of the Health Security Plan and the 2021 bill, with time for your questions. (This is the same as the January 7 meeting above.)

Thursday, January 14, 7:00-8:30 PM: Health Security Q&A
An informal question-and-answer session on Health Security. Bring your questions!

And an upcoming training from the New Mexico Health Stories Project

Saturday, January 23, 12:00-1:00 PM: Let's Write! ... Our Health Care Stories: Putting a Human Face in Front of Our NM Legislators

Learn how to write and share your story about how you have been impacted by the current in-crisis healthcare system. The New Mexico Health Stories Project will guide you through a hands-on exercise.

The New Mexico Health Stories Project is a non-partisan initiative that works with the Campaign to support implementation of the Health Security Plan.

Time to Talk to Legislators!

2021 has FINALLY arrived—so let's make good things happen!

The legislative session begins in mid-January, and that means the next few weeks are a perfect time to contact your legislators about the 2021 Health Security Planning and Design bill,* which begins the important process of designing the NM Health Security Plan.

We’ve now had three studies on the Health Security Plan. While all these studies are different, they come to the same conclusion: the Health Security Plan will cost less and make sure all New Mexicans have health coverage. Now it’s time to develop the details of the Plan.

The 2021 Health Security Planning and Design bill starts that process. Letting your legislators know of your support for this bill is critical!

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* The 2021 bill is still being drafted. Legislation is written by bill drafters at the Legislative Council Service, following requests from legislators. Once a bill is introduced in the legislature, it also gets a bill number. We will share the bill with you as soon as it’s available!

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Action item 1: Send a postcard or letter

Our state legislators are getting tons of email. Using the US Postal Service to contact your legislators will really stand out!

Mail a personal postcard or letter that explains why you support the Health Security Plan and asks your senator and representative to support it too. If you and two or three of your friends in the same legislative district can do this at the same time, it will have an even greater impact.

What do you say in your letter? You don’t have to write a novel. In fact, your legislators will appreciate it a lot if you keep your message short! Personal messages and stories are always more powerful.

For inspiration, check out our short guide to writing to legislators. Our post about the 2021 legislation and our new mental health flyer are other good places to start.

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Action item 2: Zoom with your senator or representative

If you are able to get a group of 3 to 9 people together, we will work to set up a Zoom meeting with your legislators so you can talk to them about the need to support this year’s Health Security legislation.

Also, if your legislators are holding public meetings or participating in public forums, please attend and ask them to support the 2021 Health Security Planning and Design legislation. For instance, on January 23, five legislators representing northwestern Bernalillo County and southern Sandoval County are holding a legislative town hall via Facebook Live.

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Who are your legislators, anyway?

You have two legislators at the state level: one senator and one representative.

• Start by using the legislature’s Find Your Legislator tool to find out what senate and house districts you're in.

• Then go to our contact information for legislators to find your legislator's name and mailing address. The legislature’s Find Your Legislator tool was last updated in December 2020, for the special session. That means that legislators who were newly elected in November and will be sworn in on January 19 are not on the website yet.

Reminder: Only contact your own legislators, and make sure to let your legislators know that you live in their district.