Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that creates a Health Care Authority with the responsibility to develop a plan to provide accessible and affordable health care for all New Mexicans.

Highlights:

- Establishes an eleven member Health Care Authority board consisting of five members appointed by the governor, five members appointed by the legislative council, and the superintendent of insurance. One member is required to be Native American [sec. 3 (b)]. - Prohibits anyone who has received income from private health care within the past year from serving on the board [sec. 3 (c)]. - Requires the authority to create the following six expert advisory councils to provide the board with policy, program and analysis recommendations [sec. 4 (b)]:

- Finance council: examines health care system financing and cost-containment. - Federal impact council: examines the impact of federal legal and administrative requirements. - Native American health council: examines Native American access to health care. - Health disparities council: examines demographic disparities in health care access. - Delivery system council: examines prevention and wellness incentives and chronic disease management. - Council of state-funded or state-created health care: examines cost containment and benefit issues.

- Requires the authority to produce a comprehensive plan to provide accessible and affordable health care for all New Mexico residents by January 1, 2009 [sec. 4 (c)]. - Replaces the New Mexico Health Policy Commission and transfers money, personnel, and supplies from the New Mexico Health Policy Commission to the Health Care Authority (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text