Healthy New Mexicans Benefit Us All
(pdf)
Op-Ed:
By Senator Pete Campos
(District 8, Colfax, Guadalupe, Harding, Mora, Quay, San Miguel & Taos)
For Immediate Release
HEALTHY NEW MEXICANS BENEFIT US ALL
In a state as vast and culturally diverse as New Mexico, we face tremendous challenges to ensure that all New Mexicans have equal access to affordable, quality, and timely health care. The general uncertainty at the federal level about the regulation and funding of this life-and-death issue is causing expensive and unequal repercussions to the citizens of New Mexico. It is imperative we move forward with a responsible and calculated approach to come up with a solution to keep all New Mexicans healthy.
It is extremely important we strive to bridge the health-care divide. The citizens of the Land of Enchantment represent unique multicultural families from the wealthy, who are able to provide their children the means to succeed in life through physical activities, proper nutrition, education and ample medical care, to those who live in poverty and struggle just to meet the daily needs to keep alive. Many reside in isolated rural areas that are not easily accessible to facilities or home visits by medical professionals or access to modern telemedicine methods.
Count among these numbers many of our veterans who have suffered and sacrificed for our country, the physically disabled who require constant care, the terminally ill, as well as those who suffer from behavioral health issues that require specialized care from both their families and the health community. In addition, others are of unique genetic backgrounds and suffer ailments that require specialized medical care and equal access to coverage that does not penalize pre-existing conditions.
Add to this the increasing numbers of elderly New Mexicans, including baby boomers, whose numbers are rapidly dwarfing younger and healthier citizens who do not enjoy the same economic opportunity of the past and cannot contribute as much — at no fault of their own — to the medical-coverage system to keep it solvent. There is also a growing population of elderly women who are outliving men in their age range who regularly involve themselves in healthy lifestyles and the utilization of proper medical care.
There is not one single factor, a single group or one simple solution that can solve the dilemma we as a nation face to provide accessible, affordable and equitable health care to all citizens. The daunting task of providing medical care for all is quite complicated and involves a myriad of interests, some profit based, some humanitarian based, some necessity based, some geographically based and … the list is too diverse to go on. Obviously, because there are so many competing interests, there are some groups who will push for some medical provisions to the detriment or promotion of others.
What cannot be lost in the discussion of a solution, however, is that we must level the playing field so that all New Mexicans have an adequately fair chance at the affordable health care of their choice, including alternative medical treatment, insurance providers and pharmaceuticals. The advent of the Affordable Care Act, still functioning but somewhat in limbo at the federal level in both the courts and Congress, has proven itself to be not only a job creator, but also an outline to properly provide care of all citizens in a humane and dignified manner. We have the opportunity to expand the list of insurance providers, physician assistants, nurses, doctors and medical researchers, while supporting more graduates from medical school and encouraging more of our talented youth to enter the medical/science fields. With more professionals in the field we can also offer incentives for them to serve our many rural areas.
We must form a well-rounded, health-care study group comprised of representatives from all affected parties to earnestly discuss an effective system that obviously will entail compromise and consensus. We, as New Mexicans, have the potential to lead the nation in devising an equitable solution to ensure that our citizens lead healthy lifestyles and take personal responsibility for their health. The discussion should also focus on the education of all citizens through our schools and community health clinics about the significance of proper nutrition, regular exercise, the consequences of alcohol, drug and other stimulant abuse, as well as awareness of stress relief, and to involve others around us in adopting healthy lifestyles. Such steps not only ensure a more productive society but also one that lessens the impact upon medical professionals and insurance providers.
We face tremendous challenges to provide health care to our citizens in the same spirit of mutual cooperation indicative of our long and colorful history. Our varied citizenry has survived throughout centuries and overcome many obstacles. A well-represented group can report their meaningful and concise findings to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee and work with the Legislative and Executive branches. It is well within our grasp to ensure New Mexicans continue to live healthy and unique lifestyles for generations to come. We should not settle for less!
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