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| Taxing your Health |
February 06, 2001 |
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Heather has urged New Mexico officials to eliminate the health care taxWhile talk of tax relief swirls at the national level, New Mexico faces its own taxation issues.
Congresswoman Heather Wilson recently asked New Mexico state legislators and other local officials to help assure that people in New Mexico have access to the health care they deserve.
At issue is repeal of a tax on health care services that many say is one of the roots of New Mexico’s health care crisis.
The New Mexico Medical Society says that at least 70% of high risk pregnancy cases go out of state for care because of New Mexico’s lack of doctors who specialize in that field. That’s a real problem for those patients and their families.
“It’s the people who desperately need health care they can’t afford, or medicines that cost too much, who get hurt by this tax,” says Congresswoman Wilson. “It is the responsibility of all levels of government to work together to find real solutions for the real problems individuals and families face in getting the health care they need.
“There’s a general rule in economics. When you subsidize something you get more of it and when you tax something, you get less of it. That’s been true with health care, and it’s been proven by the exodus of physicians from New Mexico and the decline in health care options available to New Mexico’s families,” continued Wilson. “To change that, the state must reduce the tax load we impose on health care.”
Read more about the health care tax:Albuquerque Journal: Rep. Wilson Criticizes Duke City for Not Backing Cut
Albuquerque Journal: Tax Cut Pitched to Keep Docs
WHAT DOCTORS SAY
New Mexico doctors know full well that this tax is driving their colleagues from this state and how that affects their patients.
“The New Mexico Medical Society and the physicians of New Mexico greatly appreciate Congresswoman Wilson`s courage to speak out on this issue of gross receipts tax repeal,” said Albuquerque doctor Barbara McAneny, President of the New Mexico Medical Society.
“Congresswoman Wilson understands how important gross receipts tax repeal is to keeping physicians in this state. The physicians of New Mexico have no desire to hurt cities and the services they must provide. We want to keep all services that people need available, but that includes medical care by physicians,” continued McAneny.
McAneny cites high-risk pregnancies as a prime example of what can happen when there’s a shortage of specialists in the state. Currently, says McAneny, at least 70% of high risk pregnancy cases go out of state for care because of New Mexico’s lack of doctors who specialize in high-risk obstetrics. Besides the obvious problems traveling out of state poses to women facing high-risk pregnancies, McAneny says the bulk of these cases are Medicaid-funded, meaning New Mexico dollars pay for healthcare out of state.
NEW MEXICO’S HEALTH CARE VOICE
Congresswoman Wilson is herself taking a more high profile role in health care. She recently earned a spot on the Health Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee after her leadership in fighting for increased Medicare reimbursement rates for New Mexico. This year, with her seat on the new subcommittee, Wilson is expected to play an even bigger role in crafting health care policy.
During the last Congress Wilson worked to extend and refine the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which helps states provide health insurance to low-income children. In the final budget agreement passed last year, Wilson helped extend the SCHIP program allowing New Mexico to keep the majority of the $58 million it stood to lose for providing health care coverage for uninsured children. She has also taken strong stands on mental health care for children, organ transplants, and women’s health care. |
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