One bill will be debated on the House floor. Two bills are being considered in committees. We need your help with these bills!
HB 122 – Healthcare Affordability Fund
Action Needed: Call and email your representative
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives will debate and vote on House Bill 122 on the House floor. The bill would raise over $110 million to invest in healthcare affordability initiatives that reduce the costs for health insurance plans on the Exchange and expand healthcare coverage for uninsured New Mexicans who don’t currently have access to any coverage.
HB 112 – Non-Discrimination in State and Local Healthcare Programs
Action needed: Provide public comment
On Wednesday at 8:00 a.m., the House State Government, Elections and Indian 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!
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.
SB 71 – Patients’ Debt Collection Protection Act
Action needed: Provide public comment by email only
On Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider Senate Bill 71.
Medical debt is out of control in New Mexico. People are routinely sent to collections or sued by hospitals over unaffordable medical bills. This legislation would stop collections against low-income patients, stop hospitals from overcharging uninsured patients, and help families get connected with healthcare coverage that can pay for their care.
New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty Healthcare Attorney
Instructions for HB 122: Healthcare Affordability Fund
Action: Call and email your representative before the House Floor Hearing
When: Before 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 17
HB 122 summary:https://nmtogether4health.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/HealthAffordabilityFundHB122.pdf
House Bill 122 would raise revenue to reduce healthcare costs by setting up a Health Care Affordability Fund that reduces health care costs for individuals who buy plans on the Exchange. The fund would also be used to expand healthcare coverage for low-income New Mexicans who are uninsured and don’t have access to healthcare coverage now.
How to support:
Because HB 122 is being debated by the full House, calls to individual legislators will be helpful. If you do not know your Representative, you can search here.
- If you are calling, leave a simple message to say you support HB 122 because it would make healthcare more affordable.
- If you are emailing, and have a personal story about not being able to afford health insurance or being uninsured and unable to access coverage, please share it.
Instructions for HB 112: Non-Discrimination in State and Local Healthcare Programs
Action: Provide public comments in House State Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee
When: 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 17
How to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89283197941
Or iPhone one-tap : US: +16699009128,,89283197941# or +12532158782,,89283197941#
Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 892 8319 7941
What to expect during the hearing: The committee will be hearing many bills in the morning. When they reach HB 112, the Chair of the Committee (Chair Georgene Louis) will announce the bill and ask who supports HB 112. At that time, if you want to provide a comment use the reaction button on Zoom and raise your hand. You will then have about 1 minute to speak in support of the bill.
HB 112 summary: https://nmtogether4health.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ProhibitDiscrimLocalHealthHB112.pdf
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.
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.
Instructions for SB 71: Patients’ Debt Collection Protection Act
Action: Provide public comment by email only to Senate Judiciary Committee
When: 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 17
How to give public comment: the Senate Judiciary Committee is no longer allowing speaking comments. Instead, they are requiring the public to submit written comments. By 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 17, please send an email to SJC@nmlegis.gov with your name, organization representing (if any), bill number, and state if you are FOR or AGAINST the bill. Please keep your written comments to 300 words or less. If you have a personal story about getting sent to collections, being sued over medical debt, or being unable to pay for large medical bills, please share it.
SB 71 summary: https://nmtogether4health.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SB71DebtCollection-1.pdf
Senate Bill 71 protects patients from crippling medical debt by:
- Stopping hospitals from sending low-income patients to collections or suing them.
- Requiring hospitals to check if patients have insurance or qualify for private or public insurance, before sending a bill to the patient.
- Stopping hospitals from overcharging uninsured patients.
