Coalition plans ‘Easy Enrollment,’ Rx legislation, healthcare cost study to address problem
New Mexico Together for Healthcare on Wednesday announced plans to support key bills in the 2022 legislative session to address a new study’s findings that a key barrier for New Mexicans accessing the healthcare they need continues to be healthcare costs.
“The data from the study shows that over the last year, during high enrollment at the peak of COVID 19, New Mexicans continued to struggle to afford healthcare coverage and to pay medical bills,” said Adriann Barboa, policy director for Forward Together Action. “We can and must make smart policy decisions that lift up New Mexico families and ensure that everyone has care.”
The study, conducted by Altarum and reaching 1,170 people across our state, shows that two-thirds of New Mexicans experienced healthcare affordability burdens in the past year, and 59 percent of New Mexicans skipped needed tests, treatments, appointments, and prescriptions or had problems getting mental healthcare/addiction treatment because of cost.
“We must take action. It is unacceptable that, after all we’ve learned from the pandemic about the importance of healthcare access, New Mexicans still sacrifice their health because costs are too high,” said Fernanda Band of New Mexico Dream Team.
In response to the study’s findings, New Mexico Together for Healthcare will advocate in the 2022 legislative session for three key policy initiatives: one to make it easier for New Mexicans to find affordable coverage; one to tackle the issue of sky-high prescription drug costs; and one to study how much hospitals charge uninsured patients.
“Easy Enrollment” is a simple policy that allows New Mexicans to check a box on their income tax returns to connect with health insurance plans that they are eligible for. If a New Mexican checks the box, relevant information from their taxes will be securely transferred to enrollment specialists who will determine the individual’s coverage options.
“Too many people don’t even know that there are affordable healthcare coverage options already available to them,” said Lorenzo Villescas, Sunland Park resident and organizer for New Mexico Together for Healthcare. “Everyone wins when we have an easy way for people and providers to find out what healthcare options they qualify for—we increase coverage, increase access to care, and reduce the financial burden that medical debt puts on our healthcare system and way too many of our families.”
NMT4HC will also be supporting legislation to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to examine the evidence and establish acceptable costs for drugs. The study shows 89 percent of New Mexicans support creation of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, including 87 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats.
“Prescription medicines are a key part of modern healthcare,” said Gabriella Rivera, a policy analyst with Health Action New Mexico. “Without affordable prescriptions, meaningful healthcare and treatment is not truly available to thousands of New Mexicans. This board will be able to bring prices under control and help New Mexicans get the medications they need to live healthy lives.”
NMT4HC will also be supporting a memorial requesting the state Department of Health study hospital charges for uninsured patients. The Altarum study found that 68 percent of New Mexicans believed healthcare costs are high because hospitals charge too much money. Nationwide studies, including one from Health Affairs and one conducted by the Wall Street Journal, show that hospitals often charge uninsured patients more than both the actual cost of care and what they charge insured patients.
“Many of our patients without health insurance are afraid to receive care at hospitals,” said Dr. Anjali Taneja, executive director of Casa de Salud clinic in Albuquerque. “They are afraid they’ll receive exorbitant hospital bills that cost several times more than the cost of care or what insurance would reimburse the hospital.”
The memorial will ask the Department of Health to collect and publish data on how much hospitals mark up their charges for uninsured patients. The memorial will also ask the Legislative Health & Human Services Committee to hold a hearing on the issue during the 2022 interim session.
The 2022 New Mexico Legislative Session starts on January 18 and runs for 30 days. While 30-day sessions focus primarily on the state’s budget, NMT4HC is working with state agencies, stakeholders and elected leaders to have Easy Enrollment and the Prescription Drug Affordability Board added to the governor’s list of priority legislation to be considered during the short session. The memorial does not need to be included on “the call” in order to be considered.
In the 2021 Legislative Session, NMT4HC partners worked with legislators to establish a Healthcare Affordability Fund that will invest in expanding and improving coverage for uninsured and under-insured New Mexicans. The work planned for the 2022 session will build on the Legislature’s demonstrated commitment to improving healthcare access in New Mexico.
The Altarum Studies
New Mexico Residents Struggle to Afford High Healthcare Costs; Worry About Affording Future Care: https://nmtogether4health.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hub-Altarum_Data_Brief_No._108_-_New_Mexico_Healthcare_Affordability.pdf
New Mexico Residents Lack Confidence in Estimating the Cost and Quality of Care: https://nmtogether4health.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hub-Altarum_Data_Brief_No._109_-_New_Mexico_Price_and_Quality_Transparency.pdf
New Mexico Residents Struggle to Afford High Healthcare Costs, Particularly in Rural Areas: https://nmtogether4health.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hub-Altarum_Data_Brief_No._110_-_New_Mexico_Affordability_Rural_vs_Non-Rural.pdf
