>>ANNOUNCER: REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO, AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO BELIEVE THAT INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM >>LORENE: HELLO, I AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

ONE OF THE ISSUES NEAREST AND DEAREST TO MY HEART IN LIFE AND IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE THE LEGISLATION THAT DEALS WITH PRESSING HEALTH ISSUES.

AND TO ADDRESS THIS FOR US ALL, OUR GUEST TODAY IS REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE ARMSTRONG, DEMOCRAT FROM BERNALILLO COUNTY, SHE HAS BEEN IN THE HOUSE SINCE 2015 BUT SHE SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE AND SO MUCH HAS BEEN DONE UNDER HER WATCH TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH FOR NEW MEXICANS.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW, REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU, LORENE, I AM REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE AGAIN.

>>LORENE: WELL I LET YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN IN HEALTHCARE FOR SO LONG, SO GIVE US A LITTLE ODYSSEY WHERE YOU STARTED, YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS ALONG THE WAY AND WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU, THANKS, LORENE.

I STARTED A LONG TIME AGO, 45 YEARS AGO AS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND I PRACTICED ACTIVELY FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES THEN DECIDED TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL SO I COULD FOCUS ON HEALTH POLICY.

SO I GRADUATED UNM LAW SCHOOL AND THAT'S HAS BEEN 20 YEARS NOW, SO I HAVE BEEN DOING HEALTHCARE A LONG TIME.

AFTER LAW SCHOOL, I WAS SECRETARY OF THE AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT HERE IN NEW MEXICO UNDER GOVERNOR RICHARDSON.

AND SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN THROUGH MY SMALL BUSINESS DELTA CONSULTING GROUP, I HAVE BEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW MEXICO MEDICAL INSURANCE POOL, WHICH IS A LEGISLATIVELY CREATED NONPROFIT THAT DOES PROVIDE SUBSIDIZED HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, IT PREDATES THE ACA.

>>LORENE: AND I KNOW THAT SENATOR TIM JENNINGS' WIFE, PATTY JENNINGS, HAD A LOT TO DO WITH STARTING THAT UP.

>>DEBBIE: YES.

>>LORENE: WERE WE SORT OF PIONEERS WHEN IT CAME TO HAVING A HIGH-RISK POOL AFTER YOU SET IT UP?

>>DEBBIE: YEAH, ABOUT THE FIFTH OR THE SIXTH IN THE COUNTRY.

IN THE 80S IS WHEN PATTY AND TIM GOT IT STARTED.

AND ONCE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT CAME INTO BEING, PEOPLE GOT ENROLLED THROUGH THAT OR EXPANDED MEDICAID.

WE STILL HAVE A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO KIND OF FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS OR HAVE REALLY HIGH SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS WITH THE HIGH-RISK POOL.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU HAVE BEEN A LEADER IN THESE HEALTH ISSUES FOR SO LONG AND SO I AM HOPING WE CAN STEP BACK A LITTLE AND LOOK AT SOME HEALTHCARE BILLS THIS SESSION.

BUT BEFORE WE EVEN TALK ABOUT THIS SESSION, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AND IN OUR STATE WITH THE PANDEMIC.

I HAVE TO SAY RIGHT UP FRONT I AM SO PROUD OF NEW MEXICO AND SO PROUD OF OUR GOVERNOR FOR LISTENING TO THE SCIENCE AND FOR KEEPING US SAFE.

IT HAS BEEN VERY HARD FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, THERE IS NO WAY AROUND IT, BUT I AM, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT THE VACCINES ARE FINALLY ROLLING OUT AND ALL OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROTOCOLS THAT EVERYBODY HAS AGREED TO KICKING AND SCREAMING, THIS STATE HAS NUMBERS ARE GETTING SO LOW THAT IT IS JUST SUCH A BLESSING.

WHAT IS YOUR EVALUATION OF HOW OUR STATE IS HANDLING THE PANDEMIC AND WHERE THINGS ARE GOING IN TERMS OF JUST THE CORONA VIRUS.

>>DEBBIE: WELL YOU KNOW I THINK WE ARE DOING BETTER BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SO LOCKED DOWN, IF YOU WILL, SO CAREFUL.

AS OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY CONTINUE TO RISE OR AS THEY WERE RISING EVEN LAST MONTH WE WERE STARTING TO GO DOWN AND AS LOW AS WE WERE IN EARLY FALL OR LATE SUMMER AT THIS POINT AND SO IT IS WORKING.

WEAR YOUR MASKS, SOCIALLY DISTANCE, LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND IT IS WORKING AS WE ARE GETTING THOSE CASES DOWN AND NOW WE ARE STARTING TO GET VACCINES OUT.

AND I KNOW IT IS REALLY HARD ON EVERYONE AND IT IS HARD ON SCHOOLS AND KIDS AND JOBS, BUT IF WE LET IT SPREAD AND GET EVERYONE SICK AND DYING AND OVERWHELM OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND OUR HOSPITALS, WE WERE ON THE POINT IN THE HOSPITALS, OF CRITICAL SERVICES WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO START TO RATION AND DECIDE WHO HAD THE MOST LIKELIHOOD OF SURVIVING BEFORE THEY WOULD TREAT AND ADMIT AND HAVE TO MAKE REALLY HARD CHOICES.

WE CAN'T HAVE OUR HEALTH SYSTEM OVERRUN LIKE THAT.

IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO HAVE STORES AND SCHOOLS OPEN IF NO ONE CAN COME BECAUSE THEY ARE SICK AND DYING.

SO WE ARE DOING A LOT IN THIS SESSION TO TRY, AND WE DID IN THE SPECIAL TO TRY AND SUPPORT FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES TO GET THROUGH UNTIL WE CAN REALLY START TO REOPEN AND SO I THINK WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB, I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS DOING A GOOD JOB.

>>LORENE: I THINK SO TOO AND I THINK FROM THE GET GO TO HAVE ALL CORONA VIRUS TESTING AND TREATMENT AND VACCINE AT NO CHARGE TO THE PATIENT.

AND ALSO NOT AN ISSUE OF ARE YOU DOCUMENTED OR NOT BECAUSE THE VIRUS IS NOT STICKING TO ONE SUBGROUP, IT IS EVERY HUMAN BEING.

WE HAVE TO YOU KNOW PROTECT OURSELVES IN THAT WAY, SO I AM PROUD OF US TOO, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BRING.

BUT THIS BRINGS ME, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW NOW SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN VERY SICK, SOME HAVE RECOVERED AND SOME HAVE PASSED ON, THERE IS A BILL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON I THINK IT IS ONE OF YOUR MAIN FOCUSSES THIS SESSION, THE ELIZABETH WHITEFIELD END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T HAD TO THINK ABOUT DEATH AND DYING SUDDENLY IT IS YOUNG PEOPLE, I MEAN IT IS NOT THE PEOPLE YOU WOULD EXPECT, SO WE ALL NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THAT.

THIS IS A BILL THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT FOR SEVERAL SESSIONS, I AM JUST HOPING THAT THIS IS THE TIME.

YOUR BILL IS HB47, YOU'VE COSPONSORED A MIRROR BILL, SP308.

SO TELL US IF YOU WOULD, WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT, TELL US, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED TO IT AND THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES, SO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE OPPOSITIONAL ISSUES AND WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU KNOW THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE I WANT THESE OPTIONS.

TALK TO US.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, LORENE FOR ASKING ABOUT THIS.

THE ELIZABETH WHITEFIELD END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT IS NAMED FOR A WELL-LOVED JUDGE IN ALBUQUERQUE, ELIZABETH WHITEFIELD, WHO ADVOCATED FOR THIS THE FIRST TIME WE RAN THE BILL IN 2017.

AT THAT POINT, I THINK SHE WAS BATTLING HER, I BELIEVE IT WAS HER EIGHTH INCIDENCE OF CANCER.

SHE HAD A TRACH THAT SHE HAD TO COVER IN ORDER TO EVEN SPEAK TO THE COMMITTEE AND IT WAS JUST SO MOVING, WE NAMED IT FOR HER EVER SINCE.

SHE DIDN'T LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, SHE PASSED AWAY IN 2017 OR 2018 BEFORE WE BROUGHT IT BACK IN 2019.

AND IT IS OPTIONS OF MEDICAL AID IN DYING, SO IT IS FOR AN ADULT RESIDENT OF NEW MEXICO WHO IS TERMINALLY ILL, HAS LESS THAN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE, WHO IS FULLY MENTALLY CAPABLE OF MAKING THE DECISION AND WHO IS ABLE TO SELF-ADMINISTER THE MEDICATION.

TWO PROVIDERS, ONE OF WHICH HAS TO BE AN MD OR DO, HAVE TO AFFIRM ALL THOSE QUALIFICATIONS, THE WRITTEN REQUESTS TO THE PRESCRIBING PROVIDER, HAS TO BE WITNESSED BY NON-INTERESTED PARTIES THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE THAT THERE IS NO COERCION.

IF THERE IS ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL ABOUT MENTAL CAPACITY TO MAKE THE DECISION, THEY HAVE TO BE REFERRED TO SOMEONE, TO A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO CAN MAKE THAT DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THEY ARE COMPETENT AND UNDERSTAND THE FULL IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISION.

AND THEN ONCE ALL OF THAT IS DONE, THEN A SCRIPT CAN BE WRITTEN 48 HOURS LATER, YOU CAN GET IT FILLED AND THEN YOU CANNOT TAKE IT OR YOU CAN TAKE IT AT THE TIME OF YOUR CHOOSING.

AND THE EXPERIENCE IN OTHER STATES SHOWS A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T ACTUALLY TAKE IT, JUST KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE GOT CONTROL, GREATLY RELIEVES ANXIETY AND ASSOCIATED EMOTIONAL SUFFERING.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE EXPLAINED ALL OF THE OPTIONS FOR END OF LIFE CARE WHICH INCLUDES PALLIATIVE CARE, HOSPICE, IN OTHER STATES THE VAST MAJORITY OVER 90% ARE ON HOSPICE AND ARE GETTING COMFORT CARE, PALLIATIVE CARE.

THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER FOR EVERYONE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH MEDICATION, NO MATTER HOW MUCH COMFORT SUPPORT OR WONDERFUL CARE YOU GET, SOMETIMES, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CONTROL THE PAIN, THE SUFFERING.

SO THIS PROVIDES AN OPTION FOR SOMEONE WHO IS DYING TO HAVE A MORE PEACEFUL DEATH THAT THEY ARE IN CONTROL OF AND CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES WITH THEM.

>>LORENE: SO WHEN THESE BILLS COME BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE AND THEY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TO OTHER COMMITTEES SINCE THEY PASSED YOUR COMMITTEE, PEOPLE AND LAWMAKERS GIVE THE MOST MOVING TESTIMONY I HAVE EVER HEARD IN THIS CAPITOL BUILDING.

THE STORIES ARE HEARTBREAKING, YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO HELP THEIR PARENTS DIE WHEN THERE IS A LOT OF PAIN AND TWO ELEMENTS THAT I THINK ARE SO IMPORTANT HERE IS THAT THE PATIENT ACTUALLY HAS A CHOICE AND THAT THEY HAVE CONTROL.

THERE WERE STUDIES THAT YOU GIVE SOMEBODY IN CHRONIC PAIN A MORPHINE PUMP AND THEY CAN USE IT WHEN THEY NEED IT INSTEAD OF HAVING TO ASK SOMEBODY, THEY USE WAY LESS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN CONTROL.

>>DEBBIE: THEY CAN CONTROL IT.

>>LORENE: SO THEY CAN JUST WAIT A LITTLE, EXACTLY.

SO THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT, TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT IT IS CALLED THE CONSCIENCE CLAUSE.

>>DEBBIE: SO THERE IS ARGUMENTS ABOUT IF SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT TO BY THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE OR RELIGIOUS FAITH OR WHATEVER DOESN'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE, THEY WILL OPT OUT AND THEY CAN.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT FORCES ANY PROVIDER TO PARTICIPATE AND THERE IS PROTECTION FOR THOSE WHO CHOSE NOT TO AS WELL AS THOSE WHO CHOSE TO PARTICIPATE, THAT THERE ARE PROTECTIONS EXTENDED TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS OR WHOEVER MIGHT BE PRESENT WITH YOU, THAT THERE IS NO LIABILITY FOR PARTICIPATING.

AND SO IT HAS A CLAUSE TO BE ABLE TO CLEARLY BE ABLE TO OPT OUT, WHICH IS ALREADY AN EXISTING LAW ANYWAYS.

BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS FULLY UNDERSTOOD AND PROTECTED BOTH TO BE ABLE TO DO IT AS WELL AS TO NOT DO IT AND EXPAND FURTHER TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO MAY BE WITH YOU.

SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT BILL TO ME, PERSONALLY, AND IF I CAN TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH HOSPICE PATIENTS, I HAVE BEEN THE END OF LIFE CAREGIVER FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

BUT MY DAUGHTER, ERIN, WHO IS A LONG TIME CANCER PATIENT, JUST BEFORE I FILED THIS BILL FOR 2019, TWO SESSIONS AGO, FOUND THAT HER CANCER HAD METASTASIZED FURTHER AFTER BEING PRETTY WELL MANAGED FOR 20 YEARS.

SHE HAD A COUPLE OF BRAIN TUMORS AND IT WAS IN HER BONES AND HER LUNGS AND HER LIVER AND SHE HAD BRAIN SURGERY JUST BEFORE THE SESSION AND STILL HAS AN INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMOR AND OTHER ACTIVE CANCERS AND IS ON A CLINICAL TRIAL AND HER MESSAGE, MY MESSAGE, IS THIS IS NOT LIKE SUICIDE WHERE SOMEONE WANTS TO DIE OUT OF DESPERATION AND DESPAIR AND ALONE.

SHE IS DESPERATELY FIGHTING TO LIVE AND ALL THE STORIES THAT WE HEAR ARE DESPERATELY FIGHTING TO LIVE, BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO AND AT SOME POINT THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHOICE THAT SHE HAS AND WHAT SHE HAS TO FACE AND I WANT THAT CHOICE FOR HER.

>>LORENE: HER COURAGE AND HER PASSION IN HER SPEECH, IT WAS SO POWERFULLY MOVING AND THEN AS YOU SAID, "ALTHOUGH THIS IS DIFFICULT TO HEAR, IT IS HARDER TO LIVE."

AND SO I SEND MANY PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS TO ERIN AND THANK HER FOR PERSONALIZING ALL OF THIS SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CHOICE OF COURAGE AND IT A CHOICE.

WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH REPRESENTATIVE DEBBY ARMSTRONG RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE ELIZABETH WHITEFIELD END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO CONSIDER AND TO STUDY AND I THANK YOU.

I HOPE THAT THIS IS A TIME THAT PEOPLE REALIZE WE REALLY NEED THE COURAGE, WE NEED THE CHOICE, WE NEED THE CONTROL.

AND I THANK YOU FOR THE LONG BATTLE YOU HAVE DONE WITH THIS.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: THERE ARE SOME OTHER BATTLES THAT YOU ARE CONTINUING.

ONE I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE WAS THE HB123, THE OVERDOSE PROTECTION PROGRAM AND THIS IS REALLY, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, THERE IS A LOT OF OVERDOSE ISSUES IN NEW MEXICO AND HOW DOES THIS ADDRESS THOSE?

>>DEBBIE: SO WE ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST OVERDOSE RATES IN THE COUNTRY AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT TO TRY AND ADDRESS IT.

THIS WOULD ALLOW A PROGRAM THAT 10 OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD DO, WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY IF WE ENACT THIS.

THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT HAVE TRIED IT AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER STATES THAT ARE THINKING ABOUT IT.

BUT WHAT THIS IS, IT IS OFTEN CALLED THE "SAFE INJECTION SITE" WHERE IT IS SOME PLACE SAFE THAT IS MEDICALLY SUPERVISED, THAT SOMEONE WHO IS USING DRUGS CAN GO WHILE THEY USE THEIR DRUGS SO THAT THEY ARE MONITORED AND INTERVENTION CAN BE PROVIDED IF THERE IS OVERDOSE.

CLEAN NEEDLES AND SUPPLIES CAN BE PROVIDED AND AT THAT TIME YOU CAN BUILD TRUST WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS SO THAT YOU CAN REFER THEM TO TREATMENT IF AND WHEN THEY ARE READY AS WELL AS OTHER SOCIAL SUPPORTS LIKE HOUSING AND FOOD AND MEDICAL CARE.

THE INTENT IS TO PREVENT, OBVIOUSLY OVERDOSES, BUT ALSO TO PREVENT HIV-AIDS, HEPATITIS C, BOTH OF WHICH COME FROM DIRTY OR SHARED NEEDLES AND OTHER KINDS OF INFECTIONS THAT CAN HAPPEN.

IT IS NOT LIMITED TO IV DRUG USE, BUT THAT'S LARGELY WHAT IT TURNS OUT TO BE.

AND THEY ARE PROTECTED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IF THEY ARE APPROPRIATELY UTILIZING THIS SAFE SPOT.

VANCOUVER IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CITY IN CANADA THAT HAS THESE PROGRAMS AND OUR COMMITTEE IN THE INTERIM HAS HEARD A LOT FROM VANCOUVER AND HOW THEIR PROGRAMS WORK.

AND SO WE ARE PROPOSING IT HERE, IT WOULD BE UP TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IF THEY WANT TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM AND ALLOW IT IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEN THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW GUIDELINES THAT ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON WHAT A PROGRAM WOULD LOOK LIKE AND HOW IT WOULD HAVE TO RUN AND SO THIS IS SETTING UP THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK TO ALLOW IT.

>>LORENE: ANOTHER BILL, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE HARDER TO EXPLAIN AND WE WILL HAVE TO DO IT IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT HOUSE BILL 203, IS A HEALTH SECURITY PLANNING AND DESIGN WORD ACT, I THINK IT HAS A NEW NAME NOW.

TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THAT AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>>DEBBIE: THANKS, LORENE.

THE HEALTH SECURITY ACT HAS BEEN VERY POPULAR AND BUILDING SUPPORT AROUND THE STATE AND HAS BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE PROBABLY FOR 20 YEARS, I THINK THE FIRST SPONSOR WAS PROBABLY MAX CALL, SO YOU AND I REMEMBER BACK TO MAX AND TO LUCKY HAVING SUPPORTED THIS.

BUT IT IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALTH REFORM TO ESSENTIALLY HAVE UNIVERSAL COVERAGE IN THE STATE AND IT IS COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED AND SO IT IS NOT REALLY GOTTEN ANYWHERE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO COST, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WAIVERS WOULD LOOK LIKE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT HOW WE WOULD HANDLE MEDICAID OR YOU KNOW THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT FINANCING IT AND STRUCTURING IT.

SO THIS YEAR WHAT I HAVE INTRODUCED INSTEAD OF THAT WHOLE PROPOSAL IS A PLANNING AND DESIGN BOARD SO WE HAVE A GROUP OF EXPERTS IN ECONOMICS AND IN FINANCING AND IN HEALTH SYSTEMS AND IN SYSTEMS CHANGE, WHO CAN BEGIN TO DO THE WORK OF FIGURING OUT THE ANSWERS.

HOW DO YOU FINANCE IT, WHAT WOULD THE PARTNERSHIP LOOK LIKE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, HOW WOULD WE STRUCTURE IT AS TO WHO IS ELIGIBLE WHO IS NOT, HOW THEY ARE ENROLLED, HOW YOU WOULD PAY PROVIDERS.

SO IT'S REALLY JUST TO DO THE PLANNING AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND MY GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO GET EVERYONE IN NEW MEXICO ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND THAT MEANS ACCESS TO PAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE.

>>LORENE: AND THAT IS ANOTHER THING THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT UP, PARTICULARLY I SAW ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL THAT THEY HAVE OPENED UP THE ENROLLMENT AGAIN FOR THE ACA, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT THEY MUST HAVE SOME FORM OF HEALTHCARE.

BUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT YOU, YOU HAVE GOT YOUR BOARD OF ECONOMISTS AND EXPERTS, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SKIN THIS CAT AND YOU HAVE A BILL, HOUSE BILL 122 AND YOU AND SUPERINTENDENT RUSSELL TOAL, A WONDERFUL SUPERINTENDENT OF INSURANCE, IT IS CALLED THE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM SURTAX AND IT HAS GOT A WAY TO JUST CARVE AWAY... >>DEBBIE: I AM TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET ALL OF IT.

SO UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD A FEE THAT THEY CHARGED TO ALL THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, THAT THEY STOPPED CHARGING.

SO WE WANTED TO PICK UP THAT SAME AMOUNT HERE IN THE STATE SO WE COULD CREATE A FUND WHERE WE COULD HELP SUBSIDIZE AND HELP PAY FOR PREMIUMS AND COST SHARING ON THE EXCHANGE AND THEN BE ABLE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE EVEN OFF THE EXCHANGE TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

AND SO IT REPLACES THAT FEDERAL FEE WITH A NEW MEXICO ONE AND THE EASIEST WAY TO DO IT, IS ATTACH IT TO A PREEXISTING SURTAX ON THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

SO IT IS A HIGHER SURTAX THAN WHAT THEY WERE PAYING AND IT SHOULD GENERATE ABOUT $110 TO $125 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR INTO A FUND THAT WE CAN HELP SUPPORT PEOPLE IN THE PURCHASE OF INSURANCE AND WHAT THEIR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES ARE.

SO WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE INSURED AND CUT DOWN ON OUR UNINSURED RATE.

>>LORENE: VERY, VERY CLEVER.

GOSH WE ARE JUST DOWN TO LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES.

ANOTHER WAY OF GETTING MONEY IS THIS CANNABIS ISSUE AND THE CANNABIS REGULATION ACT HB12.

THERE IS A BUNCH OF CANNABIS BILLS, WE ONLY REALLY HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES, BUT JUST QUICKLY, QUICKLY WHY IS HB12 SUPERIOR BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE SOME SOCIAL JUSTICE MEASURES, IT HAS TREATMENT MEASURES, IT HAS EDUCATIONAL MEASURES.

>>DEBBIE: RIGHT.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME IN LEGALIZING CANNABIS IS NOT THAT IT IS GOING TO GENERATE NEW FUNDING, I THINK IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

IT IS OUT THERE, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY NO THAT DOESN'T WORK.

BUT WE CAN, IF WE CAN LEGALIZE IT MEANS WE CAN REGULATE THE QUANTITY, THE QUALITY AND SO FORTH.

IN HOUSE BILL 12, MANDATES OR CREATES A PUBLIC HEALTH BOARD TO OVERSEE THE EFFECTS OF IMPLEMENTING RECREATIONAL CANNABIS.

IT HAS RECORD EXPUNGEMENT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED OR CONVICTED IN THE PAST FOR WHAT WOULD BE LEGAL NOW UNDER THIS.

IT HAS MANDATED EDUCATION FOR SCHOOLS AND MANDATED TRAINING FOR PRODUCERS AND MANUFACTURERS, IT CONTROLS THE PACKAGING AND LABELING SO THAT IT WON'T BE ATTRACTIVE TO CHILDREN AND HAS APPROPRIATE WARNINGS.

IT ALSO WILL FUND RESEARCH SO THAT WE CAN START RESEARCHING THE USE OF CANNABIS SO WE ARE NOT JUST LEGALIZING IT FOR A REVENUE, BUT LEGALIZING IT CAREFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY WITH AN EYE TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AS WE DO IT.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE ARE DOWN TO A MINUTE AND A HALF TO GO, SO THANK YOU, YOU ARE DOING SO MUCH FOR HEALTH AND I AM SO GRATEFUL YOU HAVE BEEN HERE TO EXPLAIN JUST SOME OF THEM BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MUCH GOING ON.

BUT TELL US WHAT OUR AUDIENCE SHOULD LOOK FOR, FOR THE REST OF THE SESSION AND HOW CAN THEY BE INVOLVED.

>>DEBBIE: YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF BILLS COMING THROUGH TO TRY AND GET AT THE PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT TOO PIECEMEAL, WE THINK WE NEED SOMETHING PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPREHENSIVE BUT EVERY BIT MAY HELP.

AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF EFFORTS TO STREAMLINE LICENSING OF PROFESSIONALS PARTICULARLY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE PROVIDERS AND BUILD OUR BEHAVIOR HEALTH SYSTEM BACK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF BILLS ABOUT THAT.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO TO THE LEGISLATIVE WEBSITE AND CLICK ON WHAT IS HAPPENING, LOOK AT THE COMMITTEE SCHEDULES AND WE ARE ON ZOOM.

ON THE HOUSE SIDE ON THE CALENDARS THERE IS A ZOOM LINK, AND YOU CAN JOIN OUR MEETINGS, OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND YOU CAN PROVIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY BY BEING ON ZOOM WITH US.

AND WE ARE GETTING FAR MORE PEOPLE, I HAVE A SMALL COMMITTEE ROOM AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE ARE GETTING ON ZOOM, JOINING US ON ZOOM, IS WAY MORE THAN WHAT WE COULD HAVE FIT IN OUR LITTLE COMMITTEE ROOM AND WE ARE GETTING A LOT MORE PUBLIC TESTIMONY FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, SO I ENCOURAGE THAT.

YOU CAN ALSO JUST WATCH IT ON WEBCAST AND NOT ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE BUT YOU CAN GET ON ZOOM WITH US.

>>LORENE: I FIND LISTENING TO THOSE TESTIMONIES, PARTICULARLY THE ELIZABETH WHITEFIELD END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT, IS SO MOVING AND I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH NEW MEXICO'S CITIZENS WHO CALL UP, WHO ARE HONEST AND COURAGEOUS AND EXPLAIN THEIR VIEW.

IT IS REALLY, SINCE THE CAPITOL IS CLOSED, IS A CHANCE TO SEE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.

WELL WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR SHOW, I WILL TELL YOU FOR A SHOW ABOUT HEALTH, I AM FEELING MUCH BETTER ALREADY.

SO OUR GUEST TODAY IS REPRESENTATIVE DEBORAH ARMSTRONG, THE CHAIR OF THE NEW MEXICO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND I AM GRATEFUL YOU CAME BACK TO FILL US IN ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HEALTH.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU, LORENE, I AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO CHAT WITH YOU.

>>LORENE: AND I AM LORENE MILLS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON THIS IMPORTANT VERSION OF REPORT >>ANNOUNCER: REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO, AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO BELIEVE THAT INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM