People are talking a lot about the cost of providing quality affordable health care to all New Mexicans. Cost is an important consideration in Gov. Bill Richardson's Health Solutions New Mexico Plan, and the Legislature will decide how much funding will be provided.

However, I want to talk about one immeasurable aspect that's even more important: human suffering.

When people are uninsured, they do without. They skip prevention services. They put off a doctor's visit for a fever or a sprain. They don't receive care for their chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. This lack of coverage leads to clogged emergency departments, cancer disparities and high rates of diabetes complications. And this is all preventable.

If we tallied up the cost of people going without care for preventive, acute and chronic services, it translates into an unbelievable level of human suffering. We're talking about New Mexico residents — our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends. We cannot live this way anymore.

It is unacceptable and unethical, especially when we have a choice to invest in New Mexico's future and ensure that everyone can get the care they need.

The health care system and infrastructure that care for uninsured patients when they do seek care is substantially weaker and more fragile because folks can't get compensated for their work.

This affects the ability of hospitals, clinics, ambulance services and home health care agencies to offer salaries and benefits, upgrade equipment, expand their business and recruit and retain professionals.

We don't realize what a burden this is because it's always been this way in New Mexico. But if we could insure our residents, we could have medical and dental practices that are stable, ambulance companies that could buy upgraded equipment and hospitals that could invest in the latest medical technology. And we could have doctors, dentists and health care professionals who could afford to live and work in New Mexico.

The single greatest impediment to recruitment is the problem of the uninsured. We hear about paperwork and managed care and malpractice issues, but the high rate of the uninsured places a greater burden on everyone.

Some people are wondering how the health care system will handle an influx of newly insured patients.

People asked that question before Medicare and Medicaid were implemented more than 40 years ago. The answer is the same today. As we phase in quality, affordable health care for all New Mexicans, new revenue streams will strengthen the health care system and infrastructure.

The Department of Health will ramp up its infrastructure too. Our mission is about preventing diseases, preparing for health emergencies, providing services to safety-net populations and developing health policy. Insuring our residents would make the department's work in coordinating services and educating patients about healthy behaviors even more important because we could accomplish so much more if people could receive care.

The governor unveiled Health Solutions New Mexico recently after charging experts from around New Mexico with studying the issue and making recommendations. He has involved a critical mass of knowledgeable people who have the experience and capability necessary to turn around our health care crisis. There's no question that Health Solutions New Mexico represents substantial change and major challenges. It means increased access, better affordability and more accountability. It also means people won't suffer anymore.

I went to medical school in New Mexico more than 30 years ago so I could build a career around caring for the underserved. As a doctor, I know health care providers do what they can to provide uncompensated care, and I know it's not enough.

As native New Mexicans, my family, like so many of our families, knows what it means to do without health care. As a health secretary, I know we are at a crossroads and running out of time to solve New Mexico's health care crisis on our own.

I believe Gov. Richardson's Health Solutions New Mexico plan offers the best opportunity to end this crisis and move toward health care and coverage for every New Mexican.

Dr. Alfredo Vigil is the cabinet secretary for the state Department of Health and the former executive director of El Centro Community Health Center, which provides medical care for Northern New Mexico's rural communities.