No one should ever face discrimination when accessing healthcare, based on immigration status.
TOMORROW at 1:30 p.m., the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee will consider House Bill 112, which would stop state or locally funded healthcare programs from discriminating against New Mexicans based on their immigration status!
We need your help to provide public comment at the hearing. The deadline to apply is 5 pm TODAY.
New Mexico’s hospitals and county “indigent care” programs help uninsured and low-income residents access healthcare, but some programs are excluding certain immigrants.
Families and essential workers are pushed into devastating debt and collections–and sometimes even denied treatment. This discrimination happens even though hospitals get public funds for this care and all residents are paying state and local taxes. HB 112 would stop this discrimination.
Information on how to join the committee meeting and what you might say is below.
HB 112 summary
House Bill 112 would stop discrimination in any state or locally funded healthcare programs, so that New Mexicans can access healthcare regardless of immigration status.
Instructions for HB 112: Non-Discrimination in State and Local Healthcare Programs
Instructions for joining committee hearing
When: 1:30 p.m. or 30 minutes after the Senate floor session, Wednesday, March 10
How to join: Register Here by 5 pm TODAY
After you register, you will be contacted by the Zoom operator via email with instructions on how to join (these emails are typically sent within a few hours of the committee hearing). If you do not receive a response, check your “junk” or “spam” folder.
Written comments can also be provided via email to SPAC@nmlegis.gov. Please keep written comments to 300 words or less.
What to expect during the hearing: The committee will be hearing many bills in the afternoon. When they reach HB 112, the Chair of the Committee (Chair Jerry Ortiz y Pino) will announce the bill and call on people who registered to speak in support of HB 112. When you are called on, you will have about 1 minute to speak in support of the bill.
Tips
Tips for public comment
- Keep your remarks brief and to the point.
- If you have a personal story about being unable to access hospital and county indigent care programs due to immigration status or being unable to afford healthcare, please share it.
- When you login to Zoom, please rename yourself with your full name so the moderator can find you easily.
- Make sure you are not muted when you start speaking.
- Do not rely on your computer or phone for notes. Write them down or print them, just in case your computer screen freezes.
- Close other tabs and windows in your browser to make sure your connection is good.
- If your connection or microphone doesn’t work, be prepared to call in with the information below.
