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Michelle Lujan-Grisham on Health Care

 

 


Requests additional Medicaid funding & Hospital Provider Tax

I am requesting another $100 million dollars for the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund, additional Medicaid funding so our providers can meet growing demands, and a Hospital Provider Tax, which will bring in an additional $1.5 to $2 billion into the state, shoring up our health care delivery system, without costing patients or providers a dime. New Mexicans should never have their lives or livelihoods threatened by insurance companies that are more determined to make a dollar than a difference.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the N.M. legislature , Jan 16, 2024

Expanding Medicaid will lead to universal health care state

Right now, New Mexico is the only state where more than half the population is on Medicaid, including 80% of children. Expanding Medicaid coverage offers us a chance to revolutionize care and become a universal health care state. And that's exactly what we intend to do, building a healthier, longer living, more prosperous New Mexico where we can live for our dreams and decrease the fear and hardship of untreated chronic conditions in the process.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the N.M. legislature , Jan 19, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

ObamaCare is good first step toward comprehensive approach

I find it shameful that Republicans are trying to deny basic preventative health services for women as political leverage. Not only will I stand to that kind of bullying, I will aggressively challenge the male-dominated Congress to follow a more progressive path that provides all women with increased access to quality affordable health care.

The Affordable Care Act is a good first step. Ultimately, we must transform the health care system in this country to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

In Congress, I will lead the way for a comprehensive approach to prevention, invest in primary care, manage chronic care issues and promote quality of life until the end of life. We must face the looming long-term care crisis in this country.

Source: 2012 House campaign website, michellelujangrisham.com , Nov 6, 2012

Opposes repealing ObamaCare.

Lujan Grisham opposes the CC Voters Guide question on ObamaCare

Christian Coalition publishes a number of special voter educational materials including the Christian Coalition Voter Guides, which provide voters with critical information about where candidates stand on important faith and family issues. The Christian Coalition Voters Guide summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Repealing "Obamacare" that forces citizens to buy insurance or pay a tax"

Source: Christian Coalition Voter Guide 12-CC-q5a on Oct 31, 2012

Opposes repealing ObamaCare.

Lujan Grisham opposes the PVS survey question on ObamaCare

Project Vote Smart infers candidate issue stances on key topics by summarizing public speeches and public statements. Congressional candidates are given the opportunity to respond in detail; about 11% did so in the 2012 races.

Project Vote Smart summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Health Care: Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?'

Source: Project Vote Smart 12-PVS-q5 on Aug 30, 2012

Sponsored merging Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit.

Lujan Grisham co-sponsored HOPE for Alzheimer's Act

Congressional Summary:The purpose of this Act is to increase diagnosis of Alzheimer`s disease and related dementias, leading to better care and outcomes for Americans living with Alzheimer`s disease and related dementias. Congress makes the following findings:

  1. As many as half of the estimated 5.2 million Americans with Alzheimer`s disease have never received a diagnosis.
  2. An early and documented diagnosis and access to care planning services leads to better outcomes for individuals with Alzheimer`s disease.
  3. Combining the existing Medicare benefits of a diagnostic evaluation and care planning into a single package of services would help ensure that individuals receive an appropriate diagnosis as well as critical information about the disease and available care options.

Proponent`s argument for bill: (The Alzheimer`s Association, alz.org). The `Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer`s Act` (S.709/H.R. 1507) is one of the Alzheimer`s Association`s top federal priorities for the 113th Congress. The HOPE for Alzheimer`s Act would improve diagnosis of Alzheimer`s disease and increase access to information on care and support for newly diagnosed individuals and their families. It would also ensure that an Alzheimer`s or dementia diagnosis is documented in the individual`s medical record.

Source: S.709/H.R. 1507 13-H1507 on Apr 11, 2013

GOP can't beat ObamaCare, so they pretend it's a "disaster".

Lujan Grisham voted NAY Full Repeal of ObamaCare

Heritage Action Summary: This vote would fully repeal ObamaCare.

Heritage Foundation recommendation to vote YES: (2/3/2015): ObamaCare creates $1.8 trillion in new health care spending and uses cuts to Medicare spending to help pay for some of it. Millions of Americans already have lost, and more likely will lose, their coverage because of ObamaCare. Many Americans have not been able to keep their doctors as insurers try to offset the added costs of ObamaCare by limiting the number of providers in their networks. In spite of the promise, the law increases the cost of health coverage.

Secretary of Labor Robert Reich recommendation to vote NO: (robertreich.org 11/22/2013): Having failed to defeat the Affordable Care Act, Republicans are now hell-bent on destroying the ObamaCare in Americans` minds, using the word `disaster` whenever mentioning the Act, and demand its repeal. Democrats [should] meet the Republican barrage with three larger truths:

  1. The wreck of private insurance: Ours has been the only healthcare system in the world designed to avoid sick people. For-profit insurers have spent billions finding and marketing their policies to healthy people--while rejecting people with preexisting conditions, or at high risk.
  2. We could not continue with this travesty of a healthcare system: ObamaCare is a modest solution. It still relies on private insurers--merely setting minimum standards and `exchanges` where customers can compare policies.
  3. The moral imperative: Even a clunky compromise like the ACA between a national system of health insurance and a for-profit insurance market depends, fundamentally, on a social compact in which those who are healthier and richer are willing to help those who are sicker and poorer. Such a social compact defines a society.

Legislative outcome: Passed House 239-186-8; never came to a vote in the Senate.

Source: Congressional vote 15-H0132 on Feb 3, 2015

Other governors on Health Care: Michelle Lujan-Grisham on other issues:
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KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D)
vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R)

vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R)
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LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited)
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MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R)
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Gubernatorial Debates 2024:
DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited);
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