Wednesday, July 24, 2013

CLP letter to Health Insurance Exchange Executive Board

Legislative Health and Human Services Interim Committee Agenda July 25-26

Advocacy on No Wrong Door & Medicaid Outreach - Talking Points & Meetings

From the Medicaid Coalition:

More information has come out in the last few days about the state’s plans to do outreach on the Medicaid expansion, and it does not look good. HSD has stated that it expects community groups to do the bulk of Medicaid outreach, but HSD does not plan to provide resources to groups other than giving them information they can use. And while HSD will be holding a bunch of Centennial Care meetings around the state, they are likely to be mostly focused on MCO participation and may only reach people who are currently enrolled in Medicaid.

The Exchange just received an additional establishment grant of $18.6 million to do outreach and consumer assistance. Under federal law, the Exchange is supposed to be including Medicaid outreach and enrollment activities. Even still, the Exchange has sent information to the federal government declaring that the Exchange does not plan to use these funds to do any Medicaid outreach or enrollment activities. We are trying to find out if those plans have changed in its negotiations with the federal government, but in the meantime, it is critical that our groups call upon the Exchange to ensure do Medicaid outreach and ensure no wrong door access to coverage.

Attached are some talking points about the importance of the Exchange doing Medicaid outreach and enrollment assistance. Here are some upcoming meetings to be aware of that will have time for public comment (with several of the agendas attached):

Legislative Health and Human Services Committee (LHHS)–– Friday, July 26^th : Panel on Outreach from 1:00-3:00 & Public comment at 4:00

Location: Pueblo of Jemez

Notes from Medicaid Advisory Committee July 15, 2013

From the Center on Law and Poverty

Notes from MAC Meeting July 15, 2013

Centennial Care Updates:

·         Centennial Care Waiver was approved today.
·         HSD plans to do public education and outreach regarding centennial care. This will include 200+ meetings targeted at various groups.
·         Current Medicaid enrollees will get an orange envelope in the mail with information about how their coverage is changing.
·         Open enrollment will begin October 15, 2013 for Centennial Care. Applications will be evaluated using the current eligibility rules and using the new eligibility rules. Individuals who will be eligible under the expansion will have their applications held for approval January 1, 2014. Even though the ASPEN system won’t be rolled out in every county, applications under the new eligibility rules will be processed through ASPEN. The 60 day income verification rule will not be a problem for people to be considered eligible Jan 1, 2014 but supplying income information in Oct.
·         Molina will be taking over for Lovelace in one month. They have almost identical provider networks. There are 1400 people who will need to switch. First course of action will be to try to contract with these people’s providers who are currently out of network.
·         Centennial Care will have consumer directed care. It was thought that this would be eliminated, but the disability community spoke out against it and this option will remain for individuals who wish to coordinate long term care services for themselves rather than delegate that to a company.
·         “reasonable promptness” requirement for long term care services has been waived. This is because there will continue to be a limited number of recipients in Centennial care who are not eligible for Medicaid under the expansion or as an SSI recipient who need long term care services (139-250% FPL) the waiver allowed the state to increase the number of slots (formerly waiver slots)] but continue to be a limit.
·         SCI and Family Planning Medicaid Enrollees that are eligible for Medicaid under the Expansion will be automatically converted to Centennial Care (40,000 ppl). 2/3 of SCI recipients are eligible with the expansion. No additional paperwork should be necessary. Notices will go out to these individuals in September.
·         Retroactive coverage was not included in the waiver. CMS has committed themselves to revisit this at the request of HSD in the future. However, this should not happen for “at least a year” because CMS wants to see how easy it is for people to enroll in the expansion.
·         The MAGI conversion has been sent to CMS and HSD is waiting for approval.

Medicaid Behavioral Health Audit

·         After an audit of providers on 7/24 74% of claims had errors. When excluding human error and controlling for other factors, 25% of claims has serious problems. That represents 14% of payments made by HSD to providers for mental health.
·         They have referred these cases to DOJ who has found credible allegations of fraud, triggering an investigation. As a result, HSD cannot pay these providers anymore unless they file for a waiver.
·         Providers have filed for an injunction in state court. Hearing is WED. 7/16/13
·         Many of these providers will have to decrease services or potentially close due to the loss of revenue.
·         Companies from Arizona will step in to coordinate services and ensure that individuals can still access care.

ACA Activity Update

·         New eligibility regulations for Medicaid will be out in the fall for comment.
·         New eligibility regulations will require a state plan amendment.
·         Conversion for MAGI will be out soon.
·         New Benefits package will be out at the end of august for comment.
·         New Benefits package will be a hybrid of SCI and Medicaid. Are still considering dental benefits.
·         There will be exemptions for certain individuals who are medically fragile or pregnant to be able to get a different benefits package.
·         Presumptive eligibility curriculum is being developed that includes a curriculum to train hospital workers to do PE/MOSAA for adults.
·         There will be a tribal consultation on August 29
·         CHIPRA grants will be used for technology only (not outreach) to make sure that PEMIOSAA is easier for workers to use and that it is easier for ISD. There will be special kiosks in ISD offices.
·         Looking at how to enroll SNAP eligible kids in Medicaid automatically.
·         When asked about outreach to vulnerable and underserved populations – starting with the targeted meetings and expressed interest in working with advocacy and community groups on outreach strategist to disseminate information.
·         Kathy Slater-Huff is taking on a new position as director of the MAD Communication & Education Bureau. She will be a point person for outreach and education. This position was created in May/June.
·         Regarding Exchange doing Medicaid outreach and workers being trained in Medicaid programs, had no information. Stated that IT would interface to ensure there was no wrong door.

Sovereign Hager

Staff Attorney

New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty

RWJF CHP Announcement-Practices and Policies that Promote Health Justice, a Health Disparities Summit

The conference will convene at 8:30 am on Friday, September 6th at the University of New

Mexico in Albuquerque, and will adjourn by 1 pm on Saturday, September 7th.

. To register, please visit http://summit2013rwjf.eventbrite.com/.

. For travel or accommodation inquiries, please contact Antoinette Maestas from the RWJF Center for Health Policy at amaesta3@unm.edu.

Agenda

Friday, September 6, 2013

8:00-8:30 am Breakfast and Registration

8:30-10:00 am Welcome

Native American blessing

President Robert Frank, University of New Mexico

Dr. Gabriel Sanchez, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy, University of New Mexico

Welcome Address

Rep. Michele Lujan--Grisham (NM--01)

Opening Remarks

Rep. Lucille Roybal--Allard (CA--40) (Invited)

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (Invited)

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez (Invited)

Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry (Invited)

10:00-10:30 am Keynote Address

Dr. Thomas LaVeist Ramos, Johns Hopkins University

10:30-11:40 am Panel 1: Access to Care

Expert panelists will discuss what we know about understandings of the Affordable Care Act in communities of color across the nation and how we best ensure that all communities are able to utilize the law and access health services effectively.

11:40 am-1:10 pm LUNCH

1:10-2:20 pm Panel 2: Women's Health and the Intersection of

Gender, Race & Class

Local and national experts will discuss the best approaches to improve access to care and the health status of women, with an emphasis on women of color.

2:20-2:35 pm BREAK

2:35 - 3:45 pm Panel 3: American Indian Health

The Health and Human Services Department convenes a Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC). Members of the STAC will discuss the unique government--to--government relationship that Tribes have with the United States and how the STAC is working with the Health and Human Services Department to address American Indian health disparities. This session will provide an opportunity to better understand Native American perspectives on health, health care, and the Affordable Care Act.

3:45 - 5:00 pm Panel 4: Health Care for Immigrant Families: Policy Challenges and Opportunities

A panel of leading experts will present an overview of the status of access to health care for immigrant children and families and discuss the

program and policy options of immigration and health reforms at the local, state, and federal levels.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

9:00 -10:30 am Panel 5: Mental Health & Child Development

This panel will address how we improve behavioral health for members of communities of color, including considerations for improving access to behavioral health services for all. This panel will include experts on child development and the role of public policy in supporting healthy child development in communities of color.

10:30 - 12:00 pm Panel 6: Health Professional Workforce

Local and national experts will discuss the current landscape of health professionals and how it can be improved to better meet the demand for services, be more responsive to all who receive services, and support improved health equity.

12:00 - 12:30 pm Closing Remarks

12:30- 1:00 pm Adjourn

CMS ANNOUNCES THE PUBLICATION OF THE MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON TRIBAL INITIATIVE

CMS is pleased to announce the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Tribal Initiative (TI) funding opportunity announcement. The MFP-TI offers existing MFP state grantees and tribal partners the resources to build sustainable community- based long term services and supports (CB-LTSS) specifically for Indian country. The TI may be used to advance the development of an infrastructure required to implement CB-LTSS for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) using a single, or a variety of applicable Medicaid authorities. Funding is intended to support the planning and development of:

1) An in-state Medicaid program CB-LTSS (as an alternative to institutional care) tailored for AI/AN who are presently receiving services in an institution; and

2) A service delivery structure that includes a set of administrative functions delegated by the state Medicaid agency to Tribes or Tribal organizations (T/TOs), such as enabling tribe(s) to design an effective program or package of Medicaid community-based LTSS, and operating day to day functions pertaining to the LTSS program(s).

The TI may be used to cover costs necessary to plan and implement activities consistent with the objectives of this funding and within Federal grant regulations. The funds are subject to all the terms and conditions of the MFP Program. The funding opportunity may be found at the following links:

http://www.grants.gov/search/announce.do;jsessionid=9T9mRtGp44nN2G1T3qvFygyJJsTsnt1P3nFSyR6Kwp04pFrGzdKz!-1329833229

http://medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Long-Term-Services-and-Support/Balancing/Money-Follows-the-Person.html

State receives CMS approval of Centennial Care

For Immediate Release July 15, 2013
Contact: Matt Kennicott (505) 827-6236 or (505) 819-1402

New Mexico Receives Final Sign-off on “Centennial Care”

Medicaid Reforms Designed to Improve Quality of Care for New Mexicans in Need

Santa Fe, New Mexico – The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved the New Mexico Human Services Department’s (HSD) 1115 Waiver, known as “Centennial Care.” The improvements in New Mexico’s Medicaid program are designed to enhance the state’s ability to deliver quality care in a more coordinated, patient-centered manner for New Mexicans in need.

The final signature on the waiver, from CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, completes a more than two year process, during which the state held community meetings, tribal consultations, and working groups to develop a sustainable and more efficient Medicaid program and reduce the rate of Medicaid cost growth in the years to come. It also wraps up nearly a full year of negotiations with CMS.

“I spoke with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and I am pleased that the federal government has approved our innovative and reform-driven improvements to the delivery of health care services for those in need in New Mexico,” said Governor Susana Martinez. “Among states, we are leading the way in the effort to reform Medicaid in a responsible way that protects services for children and families, and encourages greater care coordination by health care practitioners and the most appropriate use of health care services by patients.”

The key goals of Centennial Care include:

·        A requirement of care coordination among providers for each Medicaid recipient, utilizing a comprehensive and integrated health care delivery system, whereby Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are responsible for all aspects of a person’s health care;
·        A strong move toward increasing overall health and wellness in New Mexico by paying for quality care and outcomes;
·        Greater administrative simplicity and a reorganization within the Human Services Department to manage Medicaid more efficiently
·        A more streamlined Medicaid administration as a result of operating largely under one global waiver, as opposed to 11 different health care waivers – allowing for greater focus on contractor oversight and compliance; and

Some features of the new Medicaid program include:

·        An incentives program that rewards healthy behaviors and the use of primary care facilities in order to prevent health problems and reduce chronic disease;
·        Incentives to hospitals to reduce the costly re-hospitalization rate in New Mexico by encouraging follow-up care after discharge;
·        Small co-pays for some recipients when the emergency room is used for non-emergency purposes;
·        Integrated behavioral and physical health services through care coordination in order to achieve better overall health outcomes for each patient;
·        Greater use of technology to expand the ability of health care specialists to reach rural areas, through programs like Project ECHO; and
·        Increased access to a full array of home and community based services.

“We undertook this effort in order to make Medicaid a sustainable program in New Mexico for recipients on the program today and into the future,” said HSD Secretary Sidonie Squier. “We want them to receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place in order to lead more healthy lives. Coordination of care is central to this innovative solution for New Mexico, and I look forward to full implementation beginning next year.”

HSD is currently participating in a readiness year with its MCOs in order to prepare for full implementation of the program beginning January 1, 2014. With implementation, Centennial Care will also include the potentially 170,000 individuals who will become eligible under Medicaid expansion.

Documents related to the approval can be found at http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/CentennialCare

ABQ Journal Article "Molina getting Lovelace Medicaid patients"

Interesting developments in the Medicaid program regarding MCOs:

Molina getting Lovelace Medicaid patients

By Winthrop Quigley / Journal Staff Writer on Wed, Jul 3, 2013

POSTED: 5:16 pm

Molina Healthcare of New Mexico will become the state’s largest Medicaid managed care company Aug. 1 when it assumes the Lovelace Community Health Plan’s Medicaid managed care contract with the state Human Services Department.

Molina and Lovelace, a subsidiary of Lovelace Health System, announced Wednesday that they have a deal to transfer Lovelace’s 84,000 Medicaid members to Molina, which serves 91,000 Medicaid members. The combined 175,000 members will put Molina ahead of Presbyterian Healthcare, which has 167,000 Medicaid members.

Presbyterian also insures more than 200,000 commercial and Medicare customers.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and neither Molina nor Lovelace would elaborate on a prepared statement they issued. The statement does not say what will happen to Lovelace employees who serve Medicaid members.

Lovelace lost a bid to provide Medicaid managed care under a new $4 billion state contract that takes effect Jan. 1. HSD chose Molina, Presbyterian, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare Community Health Plan of New Mexico to manage Medicaid care for an estimated 700,000 people.

This includes several thousand adults who will become eligible for Medicaid for the first time, thanks to the federal Affordable Care Act. Medicaid plan members will choose which plan to join when the new contract, known as Centennial Care, takes effect.

Lovelace Health System CEO Ron Stern said his company wanted to assure its Medicaid members continuity of care after the new contract begins.

“This partnership will provide high quality care for our Medicaid members without disruption in service or benefits,” Stern said. “These members will continue to have access to Lovelace providers, medical staff, Lovelace Retail Pharmacies and Lovelace’s network of hospitals even after Centennial Care takes effect in 2014.”

Kaiser Article "In Addition To Premium Credits, Health Law Offers Some Consumers Help Paying Deductibles And Co-Pays"

In Addition To Premium Credits, Health Law Offers Some Consumers Help Paying Deductibles And Co-Pays

By Michelle Andrews

JUL 09, 2013

When people talk about health insurance affordability, they typically focus on premiums, the sticker price for a policy. For the plans being sold through the online health insurance marketplaces next year, much of the discussion has been on tax credits that can reduce the monthly premium for people with incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($94,200 for a family of four in 2013).

But the Affordable Care Act also established another type of financial assistance for people who buy plans on the marketplaces, also known as exchanges. Cost-sharing subsidies can substantially reduce the deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and total out-of-pocket spending limits for people with incomes up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level($58,875 for a family of four in 2013). Those reductions could be an important consideration for lower-income consumers when choosing their coverage.

"Particularly for people who have to utilize a high amount of services, the reduction in total out-of-pocket costs" can be important, says Dana Dzwonkowski, an expert on ACA implementation at the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network.

Cost-sharing reductions will be applied automatically for consumers who qualify based on their income, but only if they buy a silver-level plan, considered the benchmark under the law.

Silver plans are one of the four categories that will be sold on the exchanges, each named for a precious metal. Premiums for the plans will vary, and each will offer a different level of cost sharing for the consumer through deductibles and copayments, among other things. A silver plan will generally pay 70 percent of covered medical expenses, leaving the consumer responsible for 30 percent.

The insurer will typically cover 60 percent of expenses in a bronze plan, 80 percent in a gold plan and 90 percent in a platinum plan. All exchange plans will offer a similar package of comprehensive services that cover 10 so-called essential health benefits and cover certain types of preventive care at 100 percent.

The federal cost-sharing subsidies essentially increase the insurance company's share of covered benefits, resulting in reduced out-of-pocket spending for lower-income consumers. A family of four whose income is between 100 and 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($23,550 to $35,325) will be responsible for paying 6 percent of covered expenses out-of-pocket compared with the 30 percent that a family not getting subsidized coverage would owe in a silver plan. A family with an income between 150 and 200 percent of the poverty level ($35,325 to $47,100) will be responsible for 13 percent of expenses, and one with an income between 200 and 250 percent of the poverty level will be responsible for 27 percent ($47,100 to $58,875).

In addition, people who earn 250 percent of the federal poverty level or less will also have their maximum out-of-pocket spending capped at lower levels than will be the case for others who buy plans on the exchange. In 2014, the out-of-pocket limits for most plans will be $6,350 for an individual and $12,700 for a family. But people who qualify for cost-sharing subsidies will see their maximum out-of-pocket spending capped at $2,250 or $4,500 for single or family coverage, respectively, if their incomes are less than 200 percent of the poverty level, and $5,200 or $10,400 if their incomes are between 200 and 250 percent of poverty.

Insurers have some flexibility in how they structure their plans to meet cost-sharing reductions. But in states that will require plans to standardize deductibles, copayments and coinsurance amounts, it's possible to see how out-of-pocket costs may vary.

In California, for example, a standard silver plan will have a $2,000 deductible, a $6,400 maximum out-of-pocket limit and a $45 copayment for a primary care office visit. Someone whose income is between 150 and 200 of the poverty level, on the other hand, will have a silver plan with a $500 deductible, a $2,250 maximum out-of-pocket limit and $15 copays for primary care doctor visits.

Healthy people might be inclined to go with an exchange bronze plan or the catastrophic plan (a high-deductible plan available only to people under age 30 that will have lower premiums than a silver plan), figuring they won’t need the cost-sharing assistance.

"It's an individual calculation," says Jennifer Tolbert, director of state health reform at the Kaiser Family Foundation. (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)

However, she says, services that aren’t preventive in nature may be subject to a much higher deductible than in a silver plan--$5,000 in the case of the California bronze plan--and could result in significant cost sharing.

"And remember, those people are going to be getting pretty significant premium tax credits for the silver plan, which will bring the cost of premiums down quite a bit," she says.

Consumers should keep in mind, though, the cost-sharing subsidies apply to in-network expenses only. That may become an issue in some plans with limited provider networks.

"In the exchanges, a lot of insurers are going to narrower networks as a way to keep costs down," says Christine Monahan, a senior health policy analyst at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. "If you go out of network, you could be subject to higher cost sharing and balance billing.
"

Final Ruling regarding NA/AI eligibility for exemptions in Health Insurance Market place

Final Ruling on NA/AI Exemptions relating the Health Insurance Marketplace, expanding eligibility to align with IHS eligibility rules

Obama Administration "Administration renews commitment to American Indians and Alaska Natives"

June 26, 2013

From: Paul Dioguardi
            Director, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
            U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
RE:   Administration renews commitment to American Indians and Alaska Natives

The Affordable Care Act permanently reauthorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, provides new opportunities for health insurance coverage, eliminates cost sharing such as copays and deductibles, and provides special monthly enrollment periods for members of federally recognized tribes who enroll in health plans offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Today, the Obama administration issued a final rule allowing all American Indians and Alaska Natives who are eligible to receive services from an Indian health care provider to receive an exemption from the shared responsibility payment if they do not maintain minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Prior to development of the final rule, only a portion of the American Indian and Alaska Native population – members of federally recognized tribes – would have access to an exemption from the requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage under the law. The final rule reflects comments and feedback received from Indian Country through rulemaking and the tribal consultation process.

“The administration is taking steps to honor our historical commitment to the rights of American Indians and Alaska Natives and ensure that individuals protected under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act benefit from the special provisions in the Affordable Care Act,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Today, we continue to fulfill our responsibility to consult and work with tribal communities.”

Today’s final rule adds a hardship exemption category for American Indians and Alaska Natives who are eligible to receive services through an Indian health care provider, such as the Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribally-operated facilities and Urban Indian clinics.

“We appreciate our tribal partners who advocated to ensure that all American Indians and Alaska Natives eligible for IHS can receive an exemption from the penalty for not having insurance coverage,” said IHS Director Dr. Yvette Roubideaux.

As a result of this final regulation, all American Indians and Alaska Natives who are eligible to receive services from an Indian health care provider will have access to an exemption from the shared responsibility payment.

News article NM in Depth "Health Exchange Board must be more Transparent"

Health Exchange Board must be more transparent

By Heath Haussamen, New Mexico In Depth | 46 MINS AGO

Heath Haussamen

Transparency laws exist for a reason. People should have as much access as possible to the actions of the government that makes decisions that impact their lives.

In the case of New Mexico’s Health Insurance Exchange Board, those decisions will have a huge impact on people’s lives. The Exchange is intended to be a virtual marketplace that, through competition, will give an estimated 200,000 or more New Mexicans health insurance who don’t currently have it by making insurance more accessible and, hopefully, affordable.

Transparency is especially important when dealing with complex issues like those the Exchange seeks to address. Health insurance issues are difficult to understand even for reporters like our Bryant Furlow, who has been watchdogging the Exchange. I’ve spoken with many others who have a difficult time understanding what’s going on with the Exchange. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around it.

That’s why the Exchange’s board must go out of its way to ensure the public has full access to its discussions and decisions as it sets up the Exchange.

Instead, the board has broken into committees – groups smaller than a quorum – whose meetings, they say, don’t have to be open to the public. Those committees have been discussing important issues related to the creation of the Exchange for months, and they’ve been doing it in secret, without telling the public they were meeting.

But that’s not the worst of it.

While the Exchange has failed to tell the public, including the media, about these meetings, it has made sure industry representatives were present for at least some meetings. The Exchange has ignored two requests from New Mexico In Depth for a list of industry representatives who attended the meetings.

There’s probably a practical reason for having industry representatives at the meetings. As I mentioned above, this is complex stuff, and those representatives know it better than most. The board probably needs their help and input to figure out how to set up the Exchange.

But the appearance created by the inclusion of yet-to-be-identified industry representatives, coupled with the exclusion of the public, threatens the integrity of the Exchange.

Some industry executives are undoubtedly donors to the politicians who appointed members of the Exchange board. How do we know pay-to-play, rather than the needs of the public, isn’t driving decisions the board is making?

Giving the public access to all you do

The Legislature and governor already exempted the Exchange board from conflict-of-interest laws. Now the Exchange board has found a way to avoid, or at least attempt to avoid, the transparency required by the state’s Open Meetings Act.

It’s definitely flirting with violations. Last week, all members of the Exchange board were invited to a committee meeting. A quorum didn’t show up, but there was an intent to have them all there. That would have been a certain violation of the Open Meetings Act.

Sunshine isn’t just the best disinfectant – in a system in which conflicts of interest exist and campaign contributions carry weight, sunshine is the only disinfectant.

The public must be told about and given access to any meeting at which public business is going to be discussed and a majority of board members will attend or are expected to attend, regardless of whether any action will be taken. That’s what state law requires.

The importance of the Exchange and the complexity of the issues it’s dealing with mean the board should go out of its way to be more transparent and accessible than state law requires. Instead, they’ve been meeting in secret with industry executives. Bad move.

It may be, as some of them say, that they’re simply not educated on complying with sunshine laws and are stretched thin. There’s some evidence that they want to be transparent. They let Furlow in to last week’s committee meeting after initially telling him he could not attend.

But the board would not need to worry about breaking the law if its members were erring on the side of transparency. The answer is simple: Make sure the public has access to everything you do. Open all meetings to the public. Announce them publicly in time for people to plan to attend. Webcast meetings. Archive the video. Put minutes of meetings online.

In other words, consider how you should conduct your business with the New Mexican who lacks health insurance in mind – someone who may want to be part of the process of setting up the Exchange and hopes it will help him or her get insurance – not from the perspective of the industry executive whose company hopes to profit from creation of the Exchange.

Sunshine isn’t just the best disinfectant – in a system in which conflicts of interest exist and campaign contributions carry weight, sunshine is the only disinfectant.

Heath Haussamen a member of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Freedom of Information Committee.

http://www.nmindepth.com/2013/06/22/health-exchange-board-must-be-more-transparent/