Health Care
Accessible, affordable health care should be a right for all Americans, but unfortunately more than 47 million Americans and 400,000 New Mexicans are uninsured. America pays more for health care than any other nation, but we still leave millions uninsured while millions more pay high prices for even basic care. We must fix this broken system.
Premiums have skyrocketed out of the range working folks can afford. Too many New Mexicans who have coverage have gone without a needed surgery or physical therapy because they can’t afford it. Often people wait too long before seeing a doctor and end up needing more extensive treatment for problems that have worsened over time. And too many have been victimized by insurance companies that refused to pay their medical bills.
As a Public Regulation Commissioner, I have seen firsthand the problems. Recently, I ran into two old friends from high school who are now married. They told me that their health-insurance company had refused to pay their medical claims after the woman contracted endometriosis and was treated for infertility. The company claimed, wrongly, that the infertility was a pre-existing condition, and the couple didn’t know what to do. The PRC, through our Division of Insurance, looked into the situation, and the insurance company was forced to pay what it owed after an investigation reviewed the company’s denial of coverage.
The situation highlighted a bigger problem: What about those New Mexicans who don’t know what to do or where to go when they are cheated out of legitimate medical claims? That’s why I initiated a PRC investigation into the health-insurance industry’s denial practices, to make sure illegal denials like that couple’s are the exception, not the rule.
My fellow commissioners and I also developed legislation that expands coverage and closes loopholes the industry had used to unfairly refuse payment on medical claims. The legislation -- Senate Bill 226 -- was recently signed into law by Gov. Richardson. New Mexico is one of the first states in the country to enact such legislation, but this is only a first step. In Congress, I will continue to lead the way to quality, affordable coverage for every American.
Quality, Affordable Health Care for All
Health care is something that affects us all, and as Congressman I will look for new and innovative ways to improve access to quality health care for New Mexicans. I support universal health care that is built on principles of affordability, accessibility and quality.
When I'm fighting to provide health care for all New Mexicans, I'll follow a few core beliefs:
Special interests are going to fight to prevent universal health care from succeeding, but I have experience standing up to health insurance companies to create real change. Providing true universal health care might take several years, but while we are fighting we can make real progress by expanding SCHIP and improving Medicare.
Lower Medicare Drug Prices
Seniors across the district and the country rely on Medicare to pay for their prescription drugs, but the current system allows drug companies to earn windfall profits by preventing the government from negotiating for lower drug prices. We need to use the purchasing power of millions of Medicare recipients to negotiate for lower drug prices just as the Department of Veterans Affairs is able to do with great success. We should look out for the people, not the drug companies' bottom line.
Expand Children’s Health Care
Perhaps the greatest failure of our health care system is its inability to provide health insurance for millions of children. Last year, Democrats in the House of Representatives passed an expansion of the successful and efficient Children’s Health Insurance Program to give millions of children health insurance. Unfortunately, George Bush threatened to veto the legislation and the expansion failed. In Congress, I’ll fight to provide health insurance for the almost 9 million children who are uninsured.
Premiums have skyrocketed out of the range working folks can afford. Too many New Mexicans who have coverage have gone without a needed surgery or physical therapy because they can’t afford it. Often people wait too long before seeing a doctor and end up needing more extensive treatment for problems that have worsened over time. And too many have been victimized by insurance companies that refused to pay their medical bills.
As a Public Regulation Commissioner, I have seen firsthand the problems. Recently, I ran into two old friends from high school who are now married. They told me that their health-insurance company had refused to pay their medical claims after the woman contracted endometriosis and was treated for infertility. The company claimed, wrongly, that the infertility was a pre-existing condition, and the couple didn’t know what to do. The PRC, through our Division of Insurance, looked into the situation, and the insurance company was forced to pay what it owed after an investigation reviewed the company’s denial of coverage.
The situation highlighted a bigger problem: What about those New Mexicans who don’t know what to do or where to go when they are cheated out of legitimate medical claims? That’s why I initiated a PRC investigation into the health-insurance industry’s denial practices, to make sure illegal denials like that couple’s are the exception, not the rule.
My fellow commissioners and I also developed legislation that expands coverage and closes loopholes the industry had used to unfairly refuse payment on medical claims. The legislation -- Senate Bill 226 -- was recently signed into law by Gov. Richardson. New Mexico is one of the first states in the country to enact such legislation, but this is only a first step. In Congress, I will continue to lead the way to quality, affordable coverage for every American.
Quality, Affordable Health Care for All
Health care is something that affects us all, and as Congressman I will look for new and innovative ways to improve access to quality health care for New Mexicans. I support universal health care that is built on principles of affordability, accessibility and quality.
When I'm fighting to provide health care for all New Mexicans, I'll follow a few core beliefs:
- No one should be denied care for a pre-existing condition
- Health care should be portable and not tied to your job
- Redundancy and waste should be eliminated to reduce costs
- You should be able to choose your own doctor
Special interests are going to fight to prevent universal health care from succeeding, but I have experience standing up to health insurance companies to create real change. Providing true universal health care might take several years, but while we are fighting we can make real progress by expanding SCHIP and improving Medicare.
Lower Medicare Drug Prices
Seniors across the district and the country rely on Medicare to pay for their prescription drugs, but the current system allows drug companies to earn windfall profits by preventing the government from negotiating for lower drug prices. We need to use the purchasing power of millions of Medicare recipients to negotiate for lower drug prices just as the Department of Veterans Affairs is able to do with great success. We should look out for the people, not the drug companies' bottom line.
Expand Children’s Health Care
Perhaps the greatest failure of our health care system is its inability to provide health insurance for millions of children. Last year, Democrats in the House of Representatives passed an expansion of the successful and efficient Children’s Health Insurance Program to give millions of children health insurance. Unfortunately, George Bush threatened to veto the legislation and the expansion failed. In Congress, I’ll fight to provide health insurance for the almost 9 million children who are uninsured.
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