State of New Mexico secondary Archives: on Health Care
Allen Weh:
The IRS should not supervise ObamaCare
Weh attacked the Affordable Care Act. He said he opposes the program being supervised by the IRS and he wants to see more involvement by health care professionals. Weh said he wants to make sure every citizen who wants to keep their
own private insurance policy can do so without any caveats. He also said everyone should also be able to keep the doctor of their choosing, not be told by a federal agency which physician they may use.
Source: Clovis News Journal on New Mexico Senate race
Feb 14, 2014
Ben Ray Lujan:
Cancer diagnosis shouldn't lead to bankruptcy or home loss
Lujan touted his support in Congress for the Affordable Care Act that has expanded health insurance coverage in New Mexico and his track record in securing federal funding for defense installations and water infrastructure projects on the
Navajo Nation. "I was leading to protect people with preexisting conditions because a cancer diagnosis should not lead to bankruptcy or losing your home," he said.
Source: Franklin IN Daily Journal on 2020 New Mexico Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
Ben Ray Lujan:
Supports $100 million to expand children's healthcare
Where you live shouldn't determine how well you live--especially not for our children. My Child Health Outreach and Mentorship Program Act helps states enroll more children in health care coverage by expanding the outreach and enrollment grant program.
Specifically, the bill authorizes $100 million in federal funding for CHIP outreach and enrollment grants dedicated to providing more children with health coverage.
Source: 2020 New Mexico Senate campaign website BenRayLujan .com
Jul 8, 2020
Ben Ray Lujan:
Increased funding for birth control and related services
The widespread use of contraceptives has been the driving force in reducing unintended pregnancies. Family planning has also improved maternal and child health and helps women participate fully and equally in society.
I am proud to have fought for the largest-ever funding increase to the Title X program--the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with birth control and related preventive health services.
Source: 2020 New Mexico Senate campaign website BenRayLujan .com
Jul 8, 2020
Ben Ray Lujan:
Co-sponsor of Medicare for All
I voted in favor of the ACA and have fought hard to defend it from Republican repeal efforts. I will continue to fight to improve the ACA, to lower the cost of coverage, and to increase access to high-quality doctors. I am a co-sponsor of
Medicare for All--because Congress must send a strong statement to the health care industry that things need to change--now. I support giving Medicare the ability to negotiate lower drug prices.
Source: 2020 New Mexico Senate campaign website BenRayLujan .com
Jul 8, 2020
Bill Richardson:
Secure lower prescription drug costs for seniors
We passed legislation to secure lower prescription drug costs for seniors and funded efforts to recruit and reform health professionals. Shoddy contracts and poor financial management by the previous administration have lost the state tens of millions
of dollars in matching federal funds. We’re working through the mess and have put real systems of accountability in place as we provide health care services to hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans.
Source: 2004 State of the State speech to the New Mexico Legislature
Jan 20, 2004
Bill Richardson:
Focus on raising childhood immunization rates
While we’re facing an explosion of Medicaid costs that are straining our budget, I pledge to protect Medicaid eligibility levels for children. I’m proposing to increase Medicaid by providing approximately $55 million in new state funds to match
federal funds. I want to also continue our focus on raising childhood immunization rates in New Mexico. Immunizing more of our children today means we’ll have healthier, more successful citizens down the road.
Source: 2004 State of the State speech to the New Mexico Legislature
Jan 20, 2004
Bill Richardson:
Increase access to affordable health care
I have two defining goals in health-care reform: decrease the number of uninsured New Mexicans - and increase access to affordable health care for all. Health care is a shared responsibility of governments, employers and individuals and their families.
It will not be quick and it will not be easy, but we must have the best efforts of everybody involved in health care - from consumers to HMO executives - if we are to find ways to attain my goals of wider coverage and greater access.
Source: 2004 State of the State speech to the New Mexico Legislature
Jan 20, 2004
Bill Richardson:
Consolidate mental health and substance abuse therapy needs
I want to create a new way to consolidate mental health and substance abuse into a single comprehensive advisory structure. I want to immediately create a common plan and structure to address the mental health and substance abuse therapy needs
of New Mexicans, and have a draft ready to review by March, a request for proposals out by September, and the system up and running by July of 2005.
Source: 2004 State of the State speech to the New Mexico Legislature
Jan 20, 2004
Bill Richardson:
Restrain Medicaid costs and maintain benefits
We’re working diligently to uncover and eliminate fraud, abuse, and errors in the Medicaid system. If we don’t control Medicaid costs now, we will face cutting eligibility and services down the road. We have to pay for these programs, and this is the
most fiscally responsible way to do it. I say we restrain costs and maintain benefits now, while working to create more access in the long run for working New Mexicans through my healthcare purchasing collaborative.
Source: 2004 State of the State speech to the New Mexico Legislature
Jan 20, 2004
Bob Graham:
Step-by-step common sense will reduce uninsured
Q: At a time of record federal government deficits, how can this country bring the number of uninsured down? GRAHAM: We can do it by practicing pragmatic common sense. Two very smart people, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton,
10 years ago tried to pass a comprehensive health-care reform. They were unable to do so. The lesson is that if we are going to get health care to those currently uninsured, we need to set the goal of all Americans having access to health care
and then proceed in a step-by-step basis.
I would personally advocate that we provide first for children, then for the working poor, and third for the early retiree. If we did those three groups, we would cut by two-thirds the
number of Americans who do not have health coverage. And we could do that at a cost of approximately $70 billion a year, a cost that I think is one the American people can afford and would support.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
Bob Walsh:
Opposes ObamaCare
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Expand ObamaCare"?
A: Strongly oppose
Source: OnTheIssues interview for 2020 New Mexico race
May 1, 2020
Bob Walsh:
Eliminate Federal healthcare, including Medicare & Medicaid
Q: How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?A: We should eliminate Federal meddling with healthcare, including termination of Medicare. Medicaid, the FDA and the CDC.
Libertarians favor a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want (if any), the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and
treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions. People should be free to purchase health insurance across state lines.
Should backup be needed, that may be provided by voluntary associations of people with a sense of responsibility to their local communities.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 New Mexico Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Carol Moseley-Braun:
Single payer is only way to universal coverage
The way that you get universal coverage is that you have a single-payer system. And if you have a single-payer system, then you will be able to cover everybody. Everybody in this country already gets health care. If you don’t have insurance, you will
be cared for, probably in an emergency room, the most expensive care you can get. And the cost will just get shifted throughout the system to other payers.What I’ve proposed is a single-payer system that will take advantage of the fact that we are
already paying 15% of our gross domestic product on health care, de-couple it from employment so that it’s not a burden on job creation, it’s not a burden on small businesses, it doesn’t come out of the payroll tax, which is the most regressive tax,
to begin with. With the revenue from that 15%, we can then afford a system much like the federal employees’ system in which you have a single payer but the administration takes place by the companies that individuals choose.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
Carol Moseley-Braun:
Replace profit-driven system with rationalized quality care
The physician or the provider and patient relationship has to be central to the health care system. Then you will have a dynamic in favor of quality of care, that the current profit-driven system does not have. We are wasting an awful lot of money
on profit on the one hand and disconnects between the public and private system. We’re wasting an awful lot of money that could be better put to provide us with a rationalized system, a single-payer system of health care for everybody.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
Carol Moseley-Braun:
We can fund health care with no tax increase
LIEBERMAN: I disagree with Dean and Moseley-Braun who would adopt so large a program that it would force an increase in middle-class taxes. That’s not fair.BRAUN: I want to take issue. A single-payer system will not raise taxes on the middle class.
And indeed, the plan I’ve proposed will free up middle-class incomes because it’ll take some of the pressure off of the payroll tax. We can fund this within current spending without raising taxes, with no new tax burden on anybody.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
Dennis Kucinich:
Health is a right, not a privilege
Q: How do you get more of the uninsured covered, and do you have to repeal the Bush tax cuts to do it? KUCINICH: I’ve introduced a bill which states that health care is a right, not a privilege, and it’s to get the profit out of health care,
and here’s a copy of it. It’s H.R. 676. Congress right now has in front of it a plan that would cover all medically necessary health services, all individuals.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
Dennis Kucinich:
Take profit motive out of health care
In my bill H.R. 676, individuals would not have to pay premiums, deductibles or co-pays. But what it would do is it would take the profit out of health care. And with the exception of Ms. Moseley Braun,
all the others here will retain the role of private insurers. And we have to understand that the insurance companies and the pharmaceuticals right now, they own us. We need to take our health care system back.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
Gary Johnson:
Free-market approach to health coverage instead of ObamaCare
Q: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ObamaCare?Martin Heinrich (D): Support. Repeal would make rural hospitals close & tens of thousands lose coverage . Against Medicare work rules.
Gary Johnson (L):
Repeal. Would repeal ACA & cut Medicare. Supports free-market approach to health coverage.
Mick Rich (R): Repeal. "Restore a free-market approach to health insurance."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Gary King:
State funds for pre-natal care, basic care, and managed care
Hatch indicated he supports the following principles concerning New Mexico's health care system.-
Expand state funding for pre-natal and infant care programs available in the state, including immunizations.
- Provide tax incentives to assist small businesses in providing health care to their employees.
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Ensure that New Mexico citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
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Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
Source: New Mexico Governor 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1996
Gavin Clarkson:
No single-payer; repeal ObamaCare
Q: Do you favor or oppose a national single day payer health system? A: Oppose. Government interventions in healthcare have failed to arrest rapidly rising healthcare costs and have actually accelerated them.
Healthcare was already a government-dominated sector of the economy long before ObamaCare came along. Without free-market price signals, there is no way to use resources well or productively.
Q: What would you do to rein in health care costs?
A: I support the repeal of ObamaCare, medical liability reform, allowing insurance companies to sell policies across state lines, health savings accounts,
personal liberty and choice in the selection of insurance plans, and allowing young healthy individuals to purchase high-deductible catastrophic coverage.
Source: Ballotpedia.org Connection: 2020 New Mexico Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
Gavin Clarkson:
Competition and choice are only options to lower costs
The reason healthcare is so expensive is because socialists have been trying to make it free for so long.
We no longer have a free market in health care. Competition and choice are the only policy options that will lower costs.
Source: Albuquerque Journal on 2020 New Mexico Senate race
Jun 14, 2020
Howard Dean:
Join every other industrialized country on health care
Q: How would you get more of the 41 million uninsured covered? DEAN: [I implemented a workable plan in Vermont]: Every child under 18, 99% eligible, 96% have it. Everybody under 150% of poverty has health insurance in my state.
Every senior under 225% of poverty gets prescription help.
Now, if we can do that in a small rural state and balance the budget, surely the US can join every other industrial country in the world [which all have] health insurance for all its people
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
Jeff Apodaca:
Import foreign generic drugs to lower costs
Apodaca spoke about his plan to import generic drugs from India and Israel into New Mexico,
a move that he said would create manufacturing jobs and lower the cost of the drugs by half. "That's an opportunity to drive the cost of drugs down," he said.
Source: Los Alamos Monitor on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
Aug 2, 2017
Joe Cervantes:
Supports individual mandate and universal coverage
Q: Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support interstate health
insurance compacts?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
A: I support increase to existing limits
Source: New Mexico 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
John Edwards:
Children First: insure every child, by law
I start with a very simple idea: children first. I will make sure that every child is covered, and I'll do it the only way you can, by making it the law of the land. I'm going to ask responsibility from everybody. Responsibility for the parents make
sure their kids are covered. Responsibility from the government to make sure that they can pay for it. And responsibility from big HMOs and drug companies, to bring the cost down. And if they won't accept responsibility, we will hold them responsible.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
John Edwards:
Cover 3m Hispanic kids & have National Translation Center
My healthcare plan will cover 3 million Hispanic children. I'd double the investment in public health facilities, the safety net that takes all comers to get the health care they need. And , to deal with the language disparities that Hispanic families
face every day, we should set up a national translation center, open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so that we don't have children of Hispanic adults translating to doctors about the problems that their parents are facing.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
Joseph Lieberman:
Too large health programs will force tax increases
Q: How would you cover more of the uninsured? And would the Bush tax cuts have to go in order to do it? LIEBERMAN: You bet parts of the Bush tax cuts would have to go, and they ought to go. But I disagree with Dean and others who would adopt so large
a program that it would force an increase in middle-class taxes. That's not fair. The middle class got the end of the marital tax penalty, child care tax credits and so on. I want to protect those, and we can, with a systematic step-by-step proposal.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
Joseph Lieberman:
Medi-Kids: guaranteed care until age 25
I want to create "Medikids." Every baby born in America will leave the hospital not just with a birth certificate but with a Medikids card that will guarantee them health insurance up until the age of 25. You won't have to go down to the welfare office
to sign up. You won't be mandated if you don't want to buy plans to cover health insurance. As president, I'm going to bring the right priorities: I will make every American currently uninsured eligible for a high-quality, affordable health insurance.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico
Sep 4, 2003
Maggie Toulouse Oliver:
Supports national health insurance plan and Medicare-for-All
The secretary of state said she would campaign on the creation of a national health insurance plan, colloquially known as "Medicare for all."
Toulouse Oliver also said she would support what she described as policy on the border that "treats people like humans."
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican on 2020 New Mexico Senate race
Apr 24, 2019
Mark Ronchetti:
Opposes government-run Medicare for All, socialist ideas
Mark opposes government-run Medicare for All. Socialist health care ideas do not work and do not represent New Mexico. Mark supports protecting coverage for those who have pre-existing conditions and making sure they have the care they need.
Increasing and improving access to healthcare is possible by supporting policies that lower costs while protecting quality and choice. Every American should be able to pick the healthcare plan that they want, not one the overnment picks for them.
Source: 2020 New Mexico Senate campaign website MarkRonchetti.com
Aug 30, 2020
Mark Ronchetti:
Against single payer, patients would lose their doctors
I completely oppose a single payer health care system. It would be disastrous. Medicare-for-All would drive up costs, and everyday New Mexicans would be forced to give up their employer-based insurance which they like.
Patients would lose their doctors and the ability to choose what insurance plan would best fit them.
Source: Albuquerque Journal on 2020 New Mexico Senate race
Aug 26, 2020
Mark Ronchetti:
Absolute no to government single payer health care
I oppose a single payer government-run health care system. It would drive up costs, limit New Mexicans' ability to choose their doctor, and put an end to their employer-based
health insurance plans. The price tag of such policy is so high it would mean major tax increases on businesses and families.
Source: Albuquerque Journal on 2020 New Mexico Senate race
Jan 7, 2020
Martin Heinrich:
No Medicare work rules; support ObamaCare
Q: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ObamaCare?Martin Heinrich (D): Support. Repeal would make rural hospitals close & tens of thousands lose coverage . Against Medicare work rules.
Gary Johnson (L):
Repeal. Would repeal ACA & cut Medicare. Supports free-market approach to health coverage.
Mick Rich (R): Repeal. "Restore a free-market approach to health insurance."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
Support ObamaCare; keep Medicaid without work requirement
Q: Support or Repeal ACA, aka ObamaCare?Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Supports ACA, voted against repeal. Protect & strengthen Medicaid.
Steve Pearce (R): "Repeal & replace." Voted for repeal.
Q: Require people to work to receive Medicaid?
Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No. Opposed work requirements enacted by current governor Susana Martinez.
Steve Pearce (R): Yes. Require "able-bodied" Medicaid recipients to work.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
Focus on care, not paperwork
I have directed the Department of Health and the Human Services Department to work with the superintendent of insurance to reduce reporting requirements and burdens on our health care providers. The message to providers and patients is this:
Better delivery over bureaucracy. Our providers should spend more time taking care of their patients, and our patients should spend less time worrying about what they can and can't afford.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Mexico legislature
Jan 15, 2019
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
Against religious exemptions for medical professionals
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham introduced a bill called "Eliminating the HHS Discrimination Division of 2018" which would get rid of the newly created Conscience and Religious Freedom Division within the Department of Health and Human Services. "This
Division was created with the sole purpose of allowing hospitals, doctors, nurses, and even administrative staff to determine a patient's care based on their personal religious beliefs, not on what is best for the patient," she claimed.
Source: Townhall.com blog on 2022 New Mexico Senate race
Jun 12, 2019
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
Mental health care is health care, we must meet those needs
The pandemic has underscored that our behavioral health system demands robust reform. CYFD this year created the nation's first text-only abuse and neglect hotline for children, providing them an outlet that research has shown they may be more
comfortable using. My budget calls for a 800% increase in funding for suicide prevention services and programs, for both youth and adults. Mental health care is health care, and New Mexico must and will meet those needs, no matter the circumstances.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to New Mexico legislature
Jan 26, 2021
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
Kickstart rural hospital construction with bridge financing
Too many people, especially people in the rural areas of our state, don't have timely access to the health care they need--or access at all. Every community deserves high-quality care. I propose a new Rural Health
Care Delivery Fund that will provide bridge financing to communities that have been waiting for assistance to kickstart construction without massive upfront costs; state government can help fill these gaps.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to New Mexico legislature
Jan 18, 2022
Mick Rich:
Reinstate free market model for health insurance
Mick wants to replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and restore a free-market approach to health insurance.
We should be able to buy insurance across state lines, just like car insurance. Each of us should take responsibility for our health, and work with our medical providers to control costs.
Source: 2018 New Mexico Senate website MickRichForSenate.com
Aug 8, 2017
Mick Rich:
Wants to replace Obama Care with free market insurance
Mick wants to replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and restore a free-market approach to health insurance.
We should be able to buy insurance across state lines, just like car insurance. Each of us should take responsibility for our health, and work with our medical providers to control costs.
Source: 2018 New Mexico campaign website MickRichForSenate.com
Jan 18, 2018
Mick Rich:
Allow insurance plans to be sold across state lines
Q: What actions do you advocate to improve the availability, accessibility and quality of health care?A: To reduce cost insurance plans, allow insurance plans to be sold across state lines. Eliminate mandated coverages and allow people
to customize health plans based on their needs. Incentivize healthy living through reduced premiums. Protect insurance coverage for those with preexisting conditions.
Source: League of Women Voters Q&A on 2018 New Mexico Senate race
Sep 9, 2018
Mick Rich:
Restore a free-market approach to health insurance
Q: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ObamaCare?Martin Heinrich (D): Support. Repeal would make rural hospitals close & tens of thousands lose coverage . Against Medicare work rules.
Gary Johnson (L):
Repeal. Would repeal ACA & cut Medicare. Supports free-market approach to health coverage.
Mick Rich (R): Repeal. "Restore a free-market approach to health insurance."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Rebecca Dow:
Supported the repeal of the Affordable Care Act
She voted to restrict access to health care,
including by supporting the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
Source: Democratic Party on 2022 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
Jul 7, 2021
Steve Pearce:
Repeal & replace ObamaCare
Repealing the current government takeover of medicine is only one step--more work is still needed. I want to see careful, specific legislation that will fix individual problems with health care.
We need to allow you to keep your insurance if you lose or change jobs. We need lawsuit abuse reform, and a ban on discriminating against pre-existing conditions.
Source: 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial website pearce.house.gov
Aug 22, 2017
Steve Pearce:
Repeal & replace ObamaCare; no Medicaid without work
Q: Support or Repeal ACA, aka ObamaCare?Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Supports ACA, voted against repeal. Protect & strengthen Medicaid.
Steve Pearce (R): "Repeal & replace." Voted for repeal.
Q: Require people to work to receive Medicaid?
Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No. Opposed work requirements enacted by current governor Susana Martinez.
Steve Pearce (R): Yes. Require "able-bodied" Medicaid recipients to work.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Susana Martinez:
$45M more in Medicaid; $8M more for nursing homes
Rather than using the surplus to grow government, I propose safeguarding it by using it to make targeted reforms--investments in our future to help struggling students, to make
New Mexico more competitive with job-creating tax reforms, and to maintain a safety net for our most vulnerable.As we continue to do more with less, we must never forget that our budget is a statement about our values.
That's why my budget invests $45 million more in Medicaid, providing health care for the poor and the disabled. Federal Medicare cuts are threatening to close nursing homes, leaving patients, parents, and grandparents with nowhere to go.
We promised to be there. That's why my budget includes $8 million to keep that promise and keep those nursing homes open.
Source: 2012 New Mexico State of the State Address
Jan 17, 2012
Tom Udall:
Protect Medicare & Medicaid to preserve retirement security
Tom believes that retirement security must be preserved. We need to protect Medicare for our seniors and Medicaid for the most vulnerable among us.
Whether it's reimbursement rates through Medicare or closing the "doughnut hole" that made it harder for seniors to afford life-saving prescriptions, Tom always fights for New Mexico's seniors.
Source: 2021 New Mexico Senate campaign website TomUdall.com
Jul 28, 2021
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023