Town Hall to Address Healthcare Concerns

Statewide Forum is May 3-5

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, January 18, 2007 – New Mexico First, a nonpartisan organization formed by U.S. Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman in 1986, today announced that its 2007 statewide town hall will address healthcare. The town hall, entitled "Strengthening New Mexico Healthcare: Access, Coverage, and Economics," will be held in Albuquerque May 3-5.

Heather Balas, New Mexico First’s new president, said that quality healthcare plays a central role in the state’s success, and that 2007 may be a uniquely useful time to address the issue. “The Governor and the Legislature have indicated that healthcare issues are among their top priorities. Our town hall will provide them with the citizen input they need in order to make lasting and meaningful reforms.”

The town hall discussion will focus on a wide variety of healthcare concerns, from access to quality care throughout the state, to coverage for the uninsured, to the basic economic underpinnings that drive the healthcare system. Participants at the town hall will develop recommendations for policymakers, health plans, employers, and others concerned about the healthcare system in New Mexico.

This is a good time to take on the healthcare issues in our state, said Balas. She noted that state officials have taken steps toward making major changes in this area through a recently commissioned study to look at the costs and benefits of various methods of providing universal insurance coverage to all New Mexicans.

“The work already underway at the state level makes this an amazing time to take on this topic,” says Balas. “We expect that policymakers will be anxious to hear what the town hall participants have to say.”

The forum, which will be limited to 120 participants, will be held on the UNM campus in Albuquerque. New Mexico First will begin accepting registrations for the forum in late February. Learn more about this town hall.