Monday, August 20, 2012
San Juan Regional Medical Center President and CEO, Rick Wallace, Selected for State Health Insurance Exchange Panel
Monday, August 6, 2012
San Juan Regional Medical Center President and CEO, Rick Wallace, Selected for State Health Insurance Exchange Panel
FARMINGTON, NM (August 6, 2012) – The New Mexico Human Services Department has created a 13-member group of stakeholders from various industries, to participate in the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Task Force. Rick Wallace, President and CEO of San Juan Regional Medical Center, has been selected as a member of this group.
This task force was created in response to the Affordable Care Act. Under the law, health insurance exchanges are designed to unite uninsured residents and small businesses with health insurance options and companies. Although there are still some unanswered questions regarding the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the state of New Mexico is taking a proactive approach.
“New Mexico is taking the initiative to establish a state–operated health insurance exchange that meets the needs of New Mexicans by leveraging the competitive power of the marketplace to improve coverage and affordability of health insurance,” said Wallace.
The task force is comprised of New Mexicans for the purpose of addressing distinctive issues of the state and its various populations, as each state’s health insurance exchange is likely to be exclusive to their individual needs. The work of the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Task Force will include focusing on topics that will be of primary concern and areas to address as they work toward the implementation of a state health insurance exchange.
The New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Task Force has identified central discussion topics such as addressing essential health benefit; outreach, enrollment, and adoption; exchange market regulation; program integration; financial sustainability; and employer participation. Each topic area is discussed in detail in smaller work groups, comprised of task force members. “I am pleased to participate and provide input on behalf of the needs of our citizens,” said Wallace. Task force meetings are open to the public.
For more information about the New Mexico Human Services Department and the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Task Force visit http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/.
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