Healthcare Despair Kathy Mezoff, M.D. John Mezoff, M.D

Health Care Despair - Covid-19 Pandemic A NEW WAY FORWARD

Even before the covid-19 pandemic, our health care system was fragmented, complex, and increasingly unaffordable for many. Now, with thousands of New Mexicans having lost their jobs, many also lost their health insurance, thus demonstrating that under our current system, many have NO health security. As in all other developed countries, health care needs to be a basic human right, and not tied to employment or wealth. We cannot have a thriving society when so many people struggle to feed and house their families. Furthermore, we see clearly how my health is intertwined with that of my neighbor, as the virus spreads through communities.

We can and must do better than this! Since 1992, the home-grown New Mexico Health Security Act has been under slow and careful development for guaranteed health coverage for most New Mexicans (except Federal retirees and military) to provide comprehensive services (including mental health) and freedom of choice of providers (no more networks).The New Mexico Health Security Act (www.nmhealthsecurity. org) gives full protection for pre-existing conditions, as well as substantial cost savings.

It will not be funded by tax increases, but by existing public dollars (such as Medicaid and Medicare) and sliding scale premiums and employer contributions, both of which will be capped. Administrative costs of our complicated private insurance system will be reduced. Bulk purchasing of drugs will lower drug costs, and global budgets will provide stable revenues for hospitals,

allowing them to invest in preventive care. The private insurance system will be shifted to a secondary but important role, for supplemental insurance coverage for services not covered by the Health Security plan (such as long-term care, dental, etc.) and for their expertise in the mechanisms for claims collection and payments.

There will be advantages for businesses which currently shop for, administer, and monitor health care plans; the cost of workers’ compensation and automobile insurance policies will be reduced by eliminating the medical component; and healthy employees support healthy businesses! Seniors will not lose any benefits or rights that they have under Medicare. Health care providers will find much-needed simplification of systems of

Never has it been more needed - socially, economically, and morally.

billing/collections, prior authorizations, and network formularies, as well as the freedom to spend more quality time with their patients.

The NM Health Security Act has now been vetted by hundreds of diverse New Mexicans. It is based on the old-fashioned concept of insurance, with the young, old, healthy and not-so-healthy all sharing risk in one pool. It will be administered by an independent, non-governmental commission of 15 geographically representative commissioners, 10 representing consumer and employer interests, and 5 representing provider and health facility interests. It will be publicly accountable, with its budget available for public scrutiny, and protection of patient/ provider privacy.

Never has it been more needed - socially, economically, and morally.

Please go to the comprehensive website, www.nmhealthsecurity.org to learn more. Sign up for email updates. Citizen knowledge and excitement about this plan will be crucial to getting it passed into law at the 2021 NM Legislative session. Phone calls and letters to legislators are powerful! When passed, it will take about 3 years to be up and running.

Stay in touch!

Kathy Mezoff, M.D., retired pediatrician John Mezoff, M.D., retired ophthalmologist