Guest Commentary: Health care reform or political posturing?

Steve Komadina |

11/17/2007 -

Do not be seduced by false promises and costly changes that might cause our fragile medical system to further unravel and cause a real health-delivery crisis in New Mexico. We do not need to create a new program just for political reasons. New Mexicans should not be used to further anyone's political aspirations. We now stand at the brink of decision making that could change the organized financing and delivery of medical care for the future of New Mexico.

State government has spent millions of your dollars hiring a national consultant to study the issue and now has disregarded the results. After ignoring the costly analysis, Gov. Bill Richardson is championing a plan which promises to do something for everybody, while asking everyone to give up a little for the benefit of all.

Many other health care reform plans are also being proposed by legislators and citizen groups. Like the governor's plan, they leave a lot of unanswered questions.

Who are the uninsured anyway? What gives government the right to make health decisions for the individual citizens of New Mexico? Do elected legislators who are realtors, lawyers, teachers, ranchers, bankers, housewives and retirees know more than you about your needs and wants for health care?

While Gov. Bill Richardson's bill does not yet exist, legislators are being asked to embrace it. He did publish 10 pages of questions and answers about his plan; however, many of the suppositions in the answers are questionable and even misleading.

In fairness, his reform plan is still a work in progress. That is why there is still no bill. To his credit, his staff continues to meet with those dissenting in their comments about the proposed legislation. The major problem most opponents see in the governor's plan is the power given to a health care authority, which will control the practice of medicine in the state. All control of delivery and reimbursement will lie with a group under control of the governor — whoever that might be!

This is in contrast to the reform bill known as the Health Security Act, picked by the state-hired national consultant as the plan most likely to deliver cost control and universal coverage for all New Mexicans. It calls for change that many feel is too radical — socialized medicine! Loss of freedom to choose! Poor quality government health care! Lack of services and long waits for care! Providers fleeing the state! These are just a few of the inflammatory descriptions of the results of such a plan. In reality it does none of those things. I see it closer to a co-op created by the government, but run by the private sector, carefully phased in. As we look at the history of mankind, the real reformations have never been peaceful or harmonious.

I predict that the 2008 session of the New Mexico Legislature will not be peaceful nor harmonious, so maybe true reformation will occur. But, remember it is an election year, and the entire state Senate and House are up for re-election. Add to that a U.S. Senate race and three U.S. House races and I predict more rhetoric, little change and much posturing to woo the electorate to return incumbents to office and elect new politicians to open seats. Perhaps it is time to hold our federal leaders' feet to the fire to get real reform on a national level so all Americans can benefit from health care reform. In the meantime, I suggest we use the programs that already exist in the state, but are not fully enrolled. Change is not needed to cover the uninsured! The uninsured are currently eligible for
already-existing health care programs.

Let us utilize state programs that will actually cover all uninsured in New Mexico if properly administered: State Coverage Insurance; State Employers Coverage Insurance; Health Insurance Alliance; New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool and NewMexiKids. I pray my fellow legislators will remember there are three branches of government so there will be checks and balances. Each branch has the right to have opinions, but legislation requires a consensus. The governor can and does veto what the legislators do. We must remain autonomous in doing what we feel is right for our constituents, not for a special interest or fellow politician. When I became a physician I pledged to "first, do no harm." When legislators deal with health care involving the life and death of our citizens, the unintended consequences of legislation becomes much more dangerous: "First, so no harm!"

State Sen. Steve Komadina, R-Corrales, sits on the Health and Human Services Committee. He is a medical doctor with an OB-GYN and wellness practice in Corrales.