Legislative Success
We did it!
Our goal this legislative session was to get funding to continue the Health Security Plan design process. $790,000 was approved in the so-called junior budget bill, which is now on the way to the governor for her signature.
This funding will enable the Superintendent of Insurance to move forward with this vital project—to expand needed research topics, hire consultants, and ensure adequate staff to oversee the process.
This is an incredibly exciting step for our state to take!
It Takes a Village . . .
We are grateful to our legislative sponsors, Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, Sen. Harold Pope, and Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil, and to all the senators and representatives who donated some of their junior money to make sure the Health Security design process continues.
A special thank-you to Rep. Debbie Armstrong, a longtime Health Security sponsor who we hope will continue to be involved with the Health Security Plan's development even after her retirement from the legislature at the end of this year. She is the one who thought we needed to change our strategy to gain greater support by beginning the design process. And it is working!
And a big thank-you to all of you: Because this was a fast-moving budget session—and one that focused on funding, not the passage of the Health Security Act—we didn’t have multiple calls for action. But we know you were following along and ready to act if we put out the call.
Next Steps
With the 2022 legislative session behind us, what’s next?
Working with the Superintendent of Insurance and our legislative sponsors to determine priorities for this phase of the Health Security Plan design process.
Reviewing and reporting on the consultants’ findings from the initial phase of research on the Health Security Plan (some reports have already been posted on the Office of Superintendent of Insurance's website).
Continuing our series of informational Zoom sessions.
Making sure you are informed about the design process and how you can provide input into the creation of our homegrown plan!
We’re off to a great start in 2022. There is a lot more to do in researching and developing the Health Security Plan. Sign up for our emails to stay posted!