REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS 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 .

I AM DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST FOR TODAY, REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE ARMSTRONG, DEMOCRAT FROM DISTRICT 17, BERNALILLO COUNTY, IN THE HOUSE SINCE 2015, THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU, LORENE, FOR HAVING ME, IT'S SUCH A DELIGHT TO BE HERE.

>>LORENE: WELL, FOR ME IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED THE CHAMPION FOR NEW MEXICO HEALTH AND YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR THE HEALTH OF NEW MEXICO FOR SO MANY YEARS.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF LITTLE SUMMARY OF YOUR BACKGROUND.

YOU HAVE BEEN A LONG-TERM HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE, YOU HAVE SERVED FOUR TERMS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN NEW MEXICO.

YOU STARTED AS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, YOU GOT A LAW DEGREE FROM UNM, YOU TAUGHT BIOETHICS, I WOULD LOVE TO DO A WHOLE SHOW ABOUT BIOETHICS AND THEN YOU WERE CABINET SECRETARY FOR THE NEW MEXICO AGING AND LONG TERM CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

YOU ARE ALSO A BUSINESSWOMAN, PRESIDENT OF DELTA CONSULTING GROUP AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOMETHING THAT HAS ALWAYS INTRIGUED ME, THE NEW MEXICO HIGH RISK INSURANCE POOL.

JUST LET'S STOP ON THAT A MINUTE, CAN YOU TELL ME WHO SET THAT UP AND WHAT THE IDEA WAS, IT WAS SO BRILLIANT, TO INSURE THE UNINSURABLE.

>>DEBBIE: YEAH, IN THE 1970S, NO 90S, I'M GOING TO AGE MYSELF, IN THE 90S PATTY JENNINGS AND SENATOR TIM JENNINGS DID THE LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING THE NEW MEXICO MEDICAL INSURANCE POOL AND THIS IS BEFORE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHEN PEOPLE WERE OFTEN REJECTED FOR COVERAGE OF INSURANCE BECAUSE OF A PREEXISTING CONDITION.

AND SO BY LAW, THIS PROGRAM WAS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD THOSE HIGH RISK CONDITIONS THEY COULDN'T BE TURNED AWAY BECAUSE OF A HEALTH CONDITION AND IT IS SUPPLEMENTED OR SUBSIDIZED, I SHOULD SAY, BY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT DO BUSINESS IN THE STATE, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS, SO THAT THE COST OF IT IS SIMILAR TO THE COST IF YOU WERE TO GO OUT ON THE MARKET, WHICH AT THE TIME WAS RATING PEOPLE DEPENDING ON YOUR HEALTH STATUS AND SO IF YOU HAD A CONDITION THEY WOULD RATE YOUR PREMIUM REALLY HIGH TO COVER THAT.

WELL, THIS KIND OF ELIMINATED THAT, PUT IT ON PAR WITH HEALTHY PEOPLE AND THEN IT WAS SUBSIDIZED IN ORDER TO KEEP THOSE PREMIUMS LOW.

>>LORENE: I THINK IT WAS SUCH A BRILLIANT WAY TO DO THAT.

I WANT TO THANK FORMER SENATOR JENNINGS WHO IS NOW THE MAYOR OF ROSWELL.

>>DEBBIE: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: AND HIS WONDERFUL WIFE, PATTY JENNINGS, IT WAS BRILLIANT.

BUT AT THE BEGINNING IT WAS LIKE IF YOU WERE, SAY, DIABETIC OR HAD A HEART CONDITION, YOU COULDN'T GET INSURED.

NOW WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT THERE STILL WAS A STRATA OF PEOPLE LIKE HEMOPHILIACS, I MEAN PEOPLE THAT THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE PERCENT WITH THE DISEASE, AND SO THE HIGH RISK MEDICAL INSURANCE POOL STILL FUNCTIONS TO PROVIDE HELP FOR THOSE PEOPLE, RIGHT?

>>DEBBIE: RIGHT, RIGHT, IT STILL DOES.

SO, IF YOU, FOR SOME REASON CAN'T GET INSURANCE, YOU CAN GET INSURED THROUGH THE POOL.

IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT YOU HAVE A HIGH RISK CONDITION NECESSARILY ANYMORE, SO IF DURING CLOSED ENROLLMENT OR FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT YOU DON'T QUALIFY TO PURCHASE INSURANCE AND DON'T QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID, YOU CAN GET INSURANCE THROUGH THE HIGH RISK POOL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE POOL ARE JUST ON IT HISTORICALLY SO THEY HAVE BEEN ON IT FOR YEARS AND DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE AND SO WE DIDN'T FORCE THEM TO GET OFF AND DO SOMETHING ELSE ONCE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT STARTED.

>>LORENE: I WANT TO GO THROUGH YOUR MAIN ISSUES.

YOU KNOW FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE HEALTH TOPIC HAS BEEN THE PANDEMIC AND I REALLY WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE GOVERNOR AND TO DR. SCRASE AND TO YOU FOR HOW OUR STATE STEPPED UP, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE MASKS AND THERE WERE A CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE VACCINES, THE FACT THAT THE VACCINES WERE FREE AND AVAILABLE TO WHOEVER WANTED THEM, ULTIMATELY, THERE WEREN'T AVAILABLE IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT WE ARE ALL HOPING THAT WE ARE OUT, VARIENTS MAY BE COMING BUT WE HOPE WE ARE AT THE OTHER END OF THIS.

AND SO HOW WOULD YOU, LOOKING AT HOW WE HAVE HANDLED THE PANDEMIC FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHAT KIND OF GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE US?

>>DEBBIE: I WOULD GIVE US A REALLY HIGH MARK, I WOULD GIVE THIS GOVERNOR A REALLY HIGH MARK BY FOLLOWING THE DATA AND THE SCIENCE AND RESPONDING.

SHE HAD TO MAKE SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS THAT WERE REALLY HARD ON A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT WE LOST TOO MANY PEOPLE AND THE HOSPITALS BECAME SO OVERRUN AND THEN PEOPLE DELAYED GETTING CARE SO THAT THERE WAS, I THINK WHEN WE LOOK BACK, WE ARE GOING TO SEE HIGHER INCIDENCES LIKE BREAST CANCER AND OTHER KINDS OF CANCERS OR CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND HIGHER DEATHS AND MORBIDITIES JUST RELATED TO DELAY IN CARE AS WELL AS THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO, I THINK WE HAD TO DO EVERYTHING WE COULD TO STOP IT IN ITS TRACKS TO THE GREATEST ABILITY THAT WE COULD.

THE GREATEST TOOL WE HAD WAS OURSELVES AND OUR BEHAVIOR TO STOP THE SPREAD.

SO, I REALLY THANK THIS GOVERNOR AND I AM PROUD OF HOW NEW MEXICO DID.

>>LORENE: AND I AM ALSO REALLY PROUD OF DR. SCRASE, HE HAD WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCES, UPDATES ON HOW MANY CASES, HOW MANY DEATHS, HOW MANY HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AND HE HAS A KNACK FOR EXPLAINING THINGS IN A REALLY CLEAR AND DISTINCT WAY AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

SO, WE ARE HOPING WITH THE WARMER WEATHER AND THE TRAINING PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO WEAR MASKS INDOORS AND IN CROWDED SITUATIONS, THAT WE ARE SEEING AT LEAST A DOWNHILL SIDE OF IT, WE WILL WAIT AND SEE.

NOW, BUT, I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOME OF YOUR CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS.

YOU SPENT THREE YEARS TRYING TO PASS THE ELIZABETH WHITEFIELD END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT.

THIS IS A BILL, I WILL HAVE YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS, THAT HAS GIVEN RELIEF, TAKEN SO MUCH PAIN OUT OF THE DYING PROCESS, AND IT WAS A VERY HARD BATTLE, SO TELL US HOW LONG IT TOOK, WHO IS ELIZABETH WHITEFIELD AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, I LISTENED TO ALL THE TESTIMONY IN FRONT OF ALL THE BILLS AND WHEN IT CAME BEFORE SOME OF THE COMMITTEES, THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY HAD ME IN TEARS.

IT WAS SO MOVING AND SO PASSIONATE, PEOPLE WERE SCARRED FOR LIFE WATCHING THEIR PARENTS OR A RELATIVE OR A LOVED ONE GO THROUGH AGONIZING DEATH AND NOW IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE GIVEN US OPTIONS.

AND ALSO BY THE WAY, YOUR WONDERFUL DAUGHTER, ERIN, WAS A POWERFUL ADVOCATE.

>>DEBBIE: YES.

>>LORENE: SHE SPOKE VERY, VERY WELL.

>>DEBBIE: YES, SHE WAS.

SO IT TOOK THREE DIFFERENT SESSIONS INTRODUCING IT OVER A PERIOD OF SIX YEARS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT GERMANE ON A BUDGET SHORT SESSION.

SO I DID IT EVERY OTHER YEAR UNTIL WE PASSED IT AND ELIZABETH WHITEFIELD WAS A BELOVED FAMILY COURT JUDGE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND WHO WAS A REALLY STRONG ADVOCATE THE FIRST TIME I RAN THE BILL AND WAS SUFFERING FROM LIKE HER SIXTH OR SEVENTH BOUT WITH CANCER AT THE TIME.

UNFORTUNATELY, SHE DIDN'T LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE IT ENACTED, SHE DIDN'T LIVE EVEN FOR THE SECOND RUN ON IT, WHICH IS WHEN WE STARTED NAMING IT FOR HER, THE ELIZABETH WHITEFIELD END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT.

AND IT MAKES LEGAL IN NEW MEXICO MEDICAL AID IN DYING, SO FOR A COMPETENT ADULT RESIDENT OF NEW MEXICO WHO HAS A TERMINAL ILLNESS WITH PROJECTED LESS THAN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE AND HAS THE CAPACITY TO MAKE A DECISION FOR THEMSELVES, AND THE ABILITY TO SELF-ADMINISTER CAN BE PRESCRIBED MEDICATION TO CHOOSE THE TIMING OF THEIR DEATH SO THAT THEY CAN DIE A PEACEFUL DEATH SURROUNDED BY THEIR LOVED ONES.

SO THIS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, YOU CAN'T PUT IT IN YOUR ADVANCED DIRECTIVE OR LIVING WILL FOR YOUR FAMILY TO DECIDE THIS, YOU HAVE TO STILL BE COMPETENT YOURSELF AND ABLE TO INGEST THE MEDICATION, BUT IT PROVIDES AN OPTION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND DECREASES A LOT OF SUFFERING AND ANXIETY.

ONE BENEFIT OF HAVING THIS OPTION AVAILABLE IS DECREASING THE ANXIETY SOMEONE MAY HAVE WITH A TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS.

WHETHER THEY GET THE MEDICATION OR NOT, KNOWING THEY HAVE THE OPTION AND HAVE THE ABILITY IF IT GETS TOO BAD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO SEEK MEDICAL AID IN DYING.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE SEE ACROSS STATES WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND WE ARE ALREADY SEEING HERE, IS THAT YOU HAVE TO DISCUSS ALL OPTIONS.

>>LORENE: WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH DEBBIE ARMSTRONG, REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT 17 AND CHAIR OF THE HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ABOUT A VERY, VERY POWERFUL BILL CALLED THE ELIZABETH WHITEFIELD END OF LIFE OPTIONS ACT.

TELL US MORE, TELL US ABOUT THE HOSPICES.

>>DEBBIE: WHAT OTHER STATES ARE SEEING WHO HAVE DOING THIS FOR A WHILE AND WE ARE ALREADY SEEING IN NEW MEXICO, IS THAT IN DISCUSSING THIS OPTION OF AID IN DYING, THE PROVIDERS HAVE TO DISCUSS ALL THE OPTIONS AND SO WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF PALLIATIVE CARE OR COMFORT CARE AND HOSPICE, IN PARTICULAR, WHICH IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE THAT KIND OF CARE AT THE END OF LIFE.

AND OFTEN WHEN YOU CAN GET THE PALLIATIVE CARE HOSPICE, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY NEED TO PROGRESS TO MEDICAL AID IN DYING BECAUSE YOU ARE SUFFERING IS NOT AS GREAT AS WHAT YOU FEARED IT MIGHT BE.

>>LORENE: I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S BECOME PRETTY MUCH THE NEW NATIONAL MODEL.

>>DEBBIE: NEW MEXICO, WE TOOK SOME DIVERSION FROM OTHER STATES IN THEIR LAWS TO KIND OF ADAPT IT TO NEW MEXICO AND BEING A HEALTH SHORTAGE AREA AND SO FORTH AND RECOGNIZING THE ROLE OF HOSPICE, I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS BUT WE ARE BEING LOOKED AT AS THE NEW MODEL IN THE COUNTRY FOR HOW TO DO THIS LEGISLATION.

>>LORENE: AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU.

IT IS ALREADY BEING UTILIZED BY DOZENS OF PEOPLE, AND BOTH UNM AND PRESBYTERIAN, OUR SUPPORTERS HAVE PROVIDERS AND MANY HOSPICES ARE QUITE ENGAGED.

>>LORENE: YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN YOUR YEARS AS A CHAMPION OF NEW MEXICANS HEALTH, I WANT TO TOUCH UPON WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES.

WE WERE ABLE TO REPEAL AN OLD ABORTION BILL THAT WAS ON THE BOOKS, FIFTY YEARS OLD, HAD TO GO, HOW DO WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES STAND NOW AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THEM.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU.

SO WE NO LONGER HAVE ON THE BOOKS A BAN ON ABORTIONS, THAT WAS AN ANTIQUATED LAW THAT WAS NOT IN EFFECT BUT COULD BE IN EFFECT IF ROE V WADE IS OVERTURNED, SO IT WAS GOOD TO GET IT OFF THE BOOKS.

SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE AND SOME LEGISLATION THAT I HAVE DONE IS TO CREATE GREATER ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND CONTRACEPTION WITHOUT COST SHARING FOR ALL METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION, BOTH OVER THE COUNTER AS WELL AS PRESCRIPTION AS WELL AS BOTH MALE AND FEMALE.

SO PREVIOUSLY, A MAN COULD GET HIS INSURANCE TO PAY FOR A VASECTOMY, BUT A WOMAN COULDN'T GET HER INSURANCE TO PAY FOR A TUBAL LIGATION.

SO WE HAVE EVENED THAT OUT AND MADE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND NO COST SHARING FOR ANY BIRTH CONTROL METHOD.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY IN THE STATE AND I THINK HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO ADDRESS WOMEN'S HEALTH, BUT WE HAVE MADE SOME BIG STEPS FORWARD.

>>LORENE: YOU HAD SAID ONCE THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO MANIFEST YOUR VISION OF NEW MEXICO AS A STATE WHERE EVERY NEW MEXICAN HAS ACCESS TO THE QUALITY HEALTHCARE THEY DESERVE AND YOU HAVE DONE SOME BILLS.

YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO MENTION, YES, YOU HAVE THESE BILLS AND YOU ARGUE THEM, BUT YOU HAVE EDUCATED ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC SO MUCH AND COME UP WITH SOME VERY INGENIOUS, VERY HARD TO EXPLAIN, PLANS.

I THINK THE HEALTHCARE AFFORDABILITY ACT IS ONE, IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AND THEN THERE WAS ONE, THE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM SURTAX, WHICH TOOK MONEY FROM THE INSURERS AND THAT MONEY WENT INTO THE HEALTHCARE AFFORDABILITY FUND.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS DEFEATED MANY OTHER STATES HOW TO GET AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL CITIZENS, SO TELL ME WHAT THESE HAVE MEANT FOR US NOW, THESE NEW LAWS.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU, LORENE, FOR ASKING ME ABOUT THAT ONE.

HEALTHCARE WE CAN DO ALL WE WANT ABOUT MANDATING BENEFITS THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE TO COVER OR THAT MEDICAID HAS TO COVER, BUT IF IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE, IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY YOUR INSURANCE, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE MEANINGFUL.

AND SO WHAT I DID WITH THE AFFORDABILITY FUND AND THE TWO THINGS YOU MENTIONED ARE ACTUALLY THE SAME THING.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OR OBAMA CARE, CHARGED THE INSURANCE COMPANIES A FEE OR TAX IN ORDER TO HELP FUND THE STARTUP OF THAT WHOLE PROGRAM OF OBAMA CARE.

AND THAT TAX WENT AWAY, THE FEDERAL TAX WENT AWAY.

SO WHAT I PROPOSED IS TO ASSESS THAT SAME AMOUNT OF TAX, ACTUALLY A LITTLE LESS THAN WHAT THEY WERE PAYING FEDERALLY, BY THE STATE AND PUT IT INTO A FUND THAT WOULD BE UTILIZED TO HELP PROVIDE SUBSIDIES TO LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHO COULDN'T AFFORD THE PREMIUMS AND THE COST SHARING ON THE INSURANCE.

SO JUST LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES SOME ASSISTANCE ON AFFORDABILITY IF YOU PURCHASE INSURANCE THROUGH THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE OR EXCHANGE, THIS WOULD SUPPLEMENT THAT FURTHER, POTENTIALLY SUPPLEMENT A LITTLE HIGHER INCOME, HELP THEM AND THEN LOOKED AT INDIVIDUALS WHO FOR SOME REASON WERE NOT QUALIFIED TO PURCHASE INSURANCE THROUGH THE EXCHANGE, WHICH COULD BE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEGALLY PRESENT BUT HAVEN'T BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH.

THEY ARE BARRED FROM PURCHASING THROUGH THE EXCHANGE OR GETTING MEDICAID FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

SO WE HAVE GOT QUITE A FEW, A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND MAYBE AS MUCH AS TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE STATE WHO ARE UNINSURED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, EVEN WITH THE FEDERAL SUBSIDIES.

SO THIS WOULD HELP COVER THAT.

THE TAX IS JUST GETTING LEVIED AGAINST THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THIS YEAR AND PLANS OR THE ASSISTANCE WILL BEGIN TO BE OFFERED NEXT YEAR.

>>LORENE: THERE ARE JUST SO MANY WAYS TO SKIN A CAT AND YOU HAVE BEEN SKINNING THIS CAT MANY, MANY WAYS.

SO THE OTHER ONE WAS THE WHOLESALE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ACT BECAUSE THAT IS A HUGE COST OF HEALTHCARE AND YOU HAVE MADE SEVERAL STEPS FORWARD ON LOWERING OUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.

>>DEBBIE: WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND I THINK WE STILL NEED TO DO A LOT MORE.

BUT THE WHOLESALE ACT IS ALLOWING US TO IMPORT FROM CANADA AND THAT BILL GAVE THE AUTHORITY TO THE STATE TO DO THAT IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOWED US TO DO THAT.

AND THERE WAS A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD START THAT FEDERALLY, IT HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEY HAVE BEEN FINALIZING REGULATIONS, WHICH I THINK HAS NOW HAVE BEEN DONE.

AND NEW MEXICO HAS NOW BEEN ONE OF THE VERY FIRST STATES TO APPLY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO START IMPORTING SOME DRUGS FROM CANADA IN ORDER TO LOWER THE PRICE FOR CONSUMERS, THE DISCOUNTS THAT WE CAN GET AND IT IS NOT FOR EVERY DRUG, BUT SOME DRUGS THAT WE CAN FIND GOOD DEALS ON AND AT SIGNIFICANT PRICES DIFFERENTIAL, THAT SAVINGS HAS TO BE PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS.

AND SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT COME TO FRUITION, WE NOW HAVE APPLIED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ARE ONE OF THE VERY FIRST STATES TO DO THAT.

>>LORENE: WE HAVE TO SPEED UP, I WANT TO GET ALL THESE IN BUT WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME.

THE PATIENT DEBT PROTECTION ACT.

FAMILIES HAVE BEEN JUST IN TERROR, A MEDICAL BANKRUPTCY, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A KID WITH A HEART DEFECT OR SOMETHING AND YOU ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT.

>>DEBBIE: MEDICAL DEBT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST CAUSES OF BANKRUPTCY, IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES ON CREDIT RATINGS FOR INDIVIDUALS, IF YOUR MEDICAL DEBT HAS GOTTEN TURNED OVER TO A COLLECTION AGENCY.

SO THIS BILL SAYS THAT FOR PERSONS WHO ARE LOW INCOME, I THINK IT WAS UNDER 200 PERCENT OF POVERTY, CANNOT BE TURNED OVER TO A COLLECTION AGENCY.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE HEALTHCARE ENTITY CAN'T BILL THEM AND TRY AND WORK OUT ARRANGEMENTS TO GET PAID, BUT THEY CAN'T TURN THEM OVER TO A COLLECTION AGENCY WHICH WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THEIR CREDIT RATING.

AND THEN WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEN PEOPLE CAN'T BUY A CAR, THEY CAN'T BUY A HOUSE, THEY MAY END UP IN BANKRUPTCY SO IT CAN NEVER GET TO THE STAGE OF A COLLECTION AGENCY OR TAKING YOU TO COURT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO COLLECT IT.

AND THOSE HEALTHCARE ENTITIES, IT'S LARGELY HOSPITALS, HAVE TO SCREEN PEOPLE FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR ANY PROGRAMS.

SO SCREEN THEM FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAID, SCREEN THEM FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR SUBSIDIES ON THE EXCHANGE OR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT MIGHT HELP THEM FOR THE HIGH-RISK POOL THAT MIGHT HAVE THEM GET COVERAGE, SO THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME KIND OF MEDICAL DEBT.

>>LORENE: THAT IS A WONDERFUL PART OF THAT BECAUSE A PATIENT JUST CAN'T FIGURE ALL THAT OUT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE DEALING WITH A LOVED ONE WHO IS VERY SICK.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK TO GET RID OF THE TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY, THAT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.

QUICKLY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BUGABOO.

YOU HAD A BILL, JUST GIVE ME A SENTENCE ABOUT THAT AND THE PRIMARY CARE COUNSEL AND THEN I AM GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT WE CAN DO AND THEN TELL US ABOUT YOUR PLANS, YOURSELF.

>>DEBBIE: I'LL GIVE CREDIT TO SENATOR HICKEY FOR THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

I HAVE DONE SOME THINGS ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUT THE BIGGEST THING AND THIS CAN BE A GAME CHANGER IS AND MY AFFORDABILITY FUND I ACTUALLY TACKED ONTO HIS BILL ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CO-PAYS, THAT THERE CAN BE, WE HAVE SAID NO COST SHARING ON ANY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE INCLUDING MEDICATIONS, FOR I THINK IT'S A THREE TO FIVE YEAR PERIOD AND WE CAN RENEW IT AFTER THAT, BUT IT IS A TRIAL PERIOD SO WE CAN PROVE THAT IF YOU ARE GETTING THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES YOU NEED, YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH WILL ALSO BE BETTER AND THE COST FOR EMERGENCY ROOM CARE AND HOSPITALIZATIONS WILL GO DOWN, IF YOU ARE GETTING THE RIGHT KIND OF BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED.

SO THAT IS A BIG ONE.

>>LORENE: YOU HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN FOR YOUR SEAT.

WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YOU HAVE DONE MORE IN YOUR TIME THAN MANY OTHER LAWMAKERS HAVE, SO I REALLY WANT TO HONOR THAT HOW MUCH YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE HEALTH OF NEW MEXICANS AND WISH YOU WELL.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: I KNOW YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A CHAMPION FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATING US.

BUT JUST ONE WORD TO THE PEOPLE, WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK FOR, HOW CAN PEOPLE BE INVOLVED AND HOW CAN WE HELP CARRY ON YOUR WORK?

>>DEBBIE: WELL, THE BIGGEST THING THAT I TELL PEOPLE IS TELL YOUR STORIES, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO TALK TO THEIR LEGISLATORS AND TELL YOUR STORIES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND THE IMPACT OF HEALTHCARE ON YOUR FAMILY.

I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST SELLING POINT THERE IS.

>>LORENE: AND THERE IS ONE OTHER VERY ESSENTIAL THING ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND THE CITIZENS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP US STAY HEALTHY AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LORENE.

>>LORENE: AND OUR GUEST TODAY IS REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE ARMSTRONG, DEMOCRAT FROM DISTRICT 17 AND REALLY A HERO, A CHAMPION, A WARRIOR FOR THE HEALTH OF NEW MEXICANS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S COME BACK AND REVISIT, I KNOW YOU WILL ALWAYS STAY ACTIVE AND AS AN AGENT.

>>DEBBIE: I WON'T BE FAR AWAY, I WILL BE AROUND.

>>LORENE: GOOD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY, DEBBIE.

>>DEBBIE: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>LORENE: AND I AM LORENE MILLS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM