Printer-friendlyStrengthening New Mexico Healthcare:
Access, Coverage, and Economics
Town Hall Overview
Dates: May 3-5, 2007
Where: Albuquerque, University of New Mexico, Student Union Building
New Mexico First convened a statewide town hall bringing people together to discuss healthcare issues. Throughout the state, New Mexicans are worried about healthcare. Whether they talk about the rising costs of premiums, lack of insurance, few local doctors, or a host of other issues, citizens list healthcare as one of their primary concerns. Political will is building around this issue as well, so that healthcare is considered one of the major agenda items for the 2008 legislative session. Many experts forecast major changes in the New Mexico's healthcare system.
A full report on the town hall will be available by the end of June. In the meantime, an event summary is available here.
The town hall discussion focused 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 developed recommendations for policymakers, health plans, employers, and others concerned about the healthcare system in New Mexico.
Who Attended the Town Hall?
- Average citizens concerned about healthcare issues
- Healthcare providers and practitioners
- People working in the insurance industry
- Business leaders
- Public officials
- Healthcare advocates
Town Hall Process
New Mexico First town halls are not typical conferences with day after day of presentations. There are a few guest speakers to help set the context, but the bulk of the town hall is comprised of small group discussions among citizens who care about the topic.
Prior to the town hall, participants received a background report. The report provided valuable and interesting information on the town hall topic and served as a basis for citizen discussions during the town hall.
Using New Mexico First’s proven consensus-building process, the three-day town hall asks participants to share their best ideas for improving the state’s healthcare system.
On day one of the town hall, participants are divided into their small groups to discuss healthcare issues. On day two, participants begin refining and combining those answers. By noon on day three, participants will have developed concrete, doable recommendations for local, state, federal, and education policymakers.
What Happens After the Town Hall?
The recommendations developed during the town hall will not sit on a shelf. New Mexico First supports an "Implementation Team" that works for 12-18 months following the town hall in order to make sure the recommendations get heard. Town hall participants volunteered for the implementation team and will help advance the recommendations with state leaders.