Albuquerque, NM – Today, Senator Jeff Bingaman joined his colleagues on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to vote for sending a comprehensive health care bill to the Senate Floor that would give New Mexicans the choice of a robust public health insurance option.

Outside of his Albuquerque district office, New Mexico doctors, nurses, and health care providers assembled to show support for affordable health care reform in 2009. 

“One thing we’ve learned from our patients is that they don’t want the government doing everything when it comes to health care,” said Dr. John Winters, an Internal Medicine physician and CIR member. “But they do think government should advocate for them, and that it should set and enforce the rules so that private insurance companies can’t put profits before our health. 72% of Americans say they want a public option that competes with private insurance companies and keeps them honest.  And, by the way, that includes 50% of registered Republicans.”

The doctors and activists presented Senator Jeff Bingaman with a “Health Care Reform Check-up,” an examination of Sen. Bingaman’s progress to date.  They presented Sen. Bingaman with a clean bill of health, based on the positions he’s taken in the Senate:

• His support of a public health insurance option is a very healthy stance for our patients and all New Mexicans
• He is focused on controlling costs and making health care affordable for all New Mexicans
• He understands that reducing health care disparities and encouraging prevention are the keys to improving the quality of care
  

“In New Mexico, two insurance companies hold 54% of the market,” said Dr. Shadi Battah, an Internal Medicine physician and CIR member.  “So it’s no wonder that premiums have skyrocketed 92% over the past 7 years.  No one’s holding their feet to the fire.  I want my patients to have a choice between public and private – and I’m glad to see Sen. Bingaman wants to give us the choice as well!”