Category: Healthcare

Acoma Pueblo Community Center Funded by ARRA-Rural Development Now Open

August 25, 2010 by Democracy for N...

USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner (right) joined Acoma Pueblo Governor Chandler Sanchez and Congressman Harry Teague in dedicating Acoma’s new $13.1-million community building yesterday. The $12,609,600 loan and $500,000 grant to construct the new facility were made possible through funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

According to a statement released by Rural Development, the project is one of the largest ARRA-funded community facilities projects in the State of New Mexico. The funding is administered by USDA Rural Development’s Community Facility Program, which provides rural communities financing for these types of community buildings.

Guest Blog by Sen. Dede Feldman: 10 Ways NM is Taking Advantage of Health Care Reform

August 23, 2010 by Democracy for N...

This is a guest blog by State Senator Dede Feldman, who represents District 13 in Albuquerque in the New Mexico Legislature. Senator Feldman has long been dedicated to improving access to quality health care for all. She was selected by the White House to serve as a member of State Legislators for Health Reform, is Vice Chair of the Interim Legislative Health & Human Services Committee and serves as a member of the Interim Health Care Reform Working Group.

Rep. Ben Ray Lujan's Espanola Drug Summit Sets the Stage for Unified Action

August 18, 2010 by Democracy for N...

Yesterday, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03) met with members of the community in Espanola to talk about substance abuse in New Mexico. He was joined by a panel of experts that included elected officials, state health care and treatment providers, law enforcement officials and members of the community to discuss how to best fight substance abuse.

“Today I was proud to see our community standing together against this problem in our neighborhoods,” Rep. Lujan said at the summit. “This issue is very personal to everyone present today because substance abuse doesn’t just affect one person but penetrates our entire community. So to make an impact, we must work closely together to make sure that everyone -- from the people on the ground to the legislators in office -- is doing their part to fight this problem.”

Governor Bill Richardson Establishes NM Office of Health Care Reform; First Meeting On 8/18

August 12, 2010 by Democracy for N...

Governor Bill Richardson today released a statement announcing that he has signed an Executive Order establishing the New Mexico Office of Health Care Reform and expanding the Health Care Reform Leadership Team. He said both will be instrumental in implementing the state’s plan for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed by Congress earlier this year.

“Implementing the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a very big task and must be done carefully to ensure all New Mexicans will benefit from health care reform,” Richardson said. “The Office of Health Care Reform will collaborate with the expanded Leadership Team to lead the executive branch in establishing policies, priorities, and objectives for state government’s comprehensive effort in reaching our goals for implementation.”

Last month, Governor Richardson concurred with several recommendations contained in the Health Care Reform Leadership Team’s strategic plan, Implementing Federal Health Care Reform – A Roadmap for New Mexico. These included creating an Office of Health Care Reform within the New Mexico Human Services Department that would use existing staff resources and expanding the Leadership Team created earlier this year and chaired by HSD Secretary Katie Falls.