Some of Bernalillo County's 100,000 uninsured could access a doctor for primary and preventive care at University of New Mexico Hospital if our County Commissioners vote tonight to increase the Gross Receipts Tax by an additional $10 million per year.

TODAY'S BYLINES Schleder, who holds a masters degree in public health, and Ziwasimon, a physician, are members of the Community Coalition for Healthcare Access.

This would increase the total county contribution to UNMH for "indigent care" from $55 million to $65 million per year.

So why are UNMH administrators jeopardizing this opportunity to receive public funding by refusing to agree to County Commission requests for standard accountability measures for this money?

UNMH is already obligated to provide demographic utilization reports thanks to a federal contract with Pueblo Indians in a land-for-health-care trade in 1952, but they have rarely met this responsibility. Administrators also haven't followed through on numerous commitments to serve our community's uninsured.

Regardless of insurance status, lives depend on fair access to our public hospital. These breaches of integrity by our public hospital stewards betray the trust of patients, employees, doctors and taxpayers who support the service mission of UNMH.

It seems UNMH administration wants another blank check. But why should county taxpayers hand over new money when UNMH still cannot account for how $50 million in mill levy indigent health care dollars actually increase health access and UNMCare enrollment for vulnerable county residents?

Hats off to the UNMH workers, nurses and doctors who serve the public as best they can and give the highest quality patient care for all those who make it through the bottleneck doorway that is UNMH.

But if our health care heroes at UNMH were truly supported by their administrators, we would see a marked increase in morale and an alliance with public health and primary care to competently utilize public funds to increase access to primary care, diffuse the ER crisis and create better health outcomes for our many uninsured county residents.

The Community Coalition for Healthcare Access strongly supports this tax increase, but only if UNMH administrators are serious about preserving a safety net of health care. They can demonstrate that by agreeing to:

Increase UNMH's enrollment in two public health care programs, UNMCare and State Coverage Insurance, by 5,000 and 4,764 additional members respectively, for a total enrollment of 27,500.

Publish quarterly public reports on program enrollment and utilization for vulnerable communities.

Target outreach for UNMCare enrollment to Native Americans who live in Bernalillo County, but whose tribal affiliation is outside of New Mexico.

Expand the UNMH Board with an additional pueblo and county commissioner member to ensure compliance with historical and current agreements.

Before handing over more money, our county commissioners are right to demand a detailed demographic reporting of increased health care access to primary and preventive medical care for the tax dollars already given to UNMH.

Successful models exist for hospitals to accountably increase access to care for the uninsured in partnership with communities. It can and must be done here.