By Emily P. Walker, CQ Staff

New Mexico governor and Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson told a panel of reporters Monday that his health care plan — which touts a “heroes health card” for veterans as part of a employer-mandated universal coverage plan — has the best chance of prompting an overhaul of the system.

As governor, Richardson has cut junk food from schools, restored recess and banned smoking in public places in New Mexico, he said. His record of spurring public health gains in his state would translate to revitalizing the nation’s health care system, Richardson said.

Richardson’s appearance, telecast from New Hampshire, was part of a series of forums during which journalists grill the 2008 presidential candidates about their health care plans. The forum is sponsored by Families USA and the Federation of American Hospitals. Richardson is the sixth candidate to speak to the panel.

A key difference in his health care plan, compared with the Democratic frontrunners, is a “heroes health card,” which would guarantee coverage for veterans outside of the VA system “whenever they need it,” he said.

“The failure in Congress to gain enough supporters of legislation override a presidential veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) coupled with rising health care costs, have created a cloud of negativity about health care reform,” Richardson said.

“It’s a pessimism that exists because the President and Congress have a dysfunctional relationship,” he said.

But Richardson said if he became president, his optimistic outlook on changing the health care system and his skill at forging bipartisan support would push health care overhaul bills quickly through Congress.

“I got 40 percent of the Republican vote in New Mexico [for governor]. I’m a diplomat,” Richardson said.

Like the other presidential candidates, the crux of Richardson’s plan is expanding health care to all Americans.

“I absolutely believe that all Americans should have quality, affordable health care. It doesn’t matter if you’re a ditch-digger or a CEO,” Richardson told the panel.

To achieve universal coverage, Richardson advocates a “market-based” approach aimed at “rapidly expanding coverage through current models.” Companies would be required to provide coverage for all employees, and would receive tax credits for doing so in certain situations.

Americans who are satisfied with their insurance could stay with their providers, but everyone would have a choice of switching or adding coverage.

Richardson said he is opposed to scrapping the current system and starting anew with a massive government run universal coverage model, a method that his fellow presidential aspirant, Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich , D-Ohio, has proposed.

“I think we can get a better bang for the buck before going with something new,” Richardson said.

But if the current private insurance system is to remain an option for health care, insurance companies must not be allowed to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, Richardson said.

Acknowledging that the substantial chunk of change required for universal coverage must come from somewhere, Richardson said his plan would generate cost savings from moving paper records to an electronic format, getting rid of the Bush administration’s “2 percent tax cuts for the rich,” shifting billions from Iraq funds to pay for health care, and eliminating congressional earmarks.

To drive home his financial plan to achieve universal health care, Richardson also referenced his support for a constitutional amendment to balance the budget over six years.

Like the plans of Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton , D-N.Y., Barack Obama , D-Ill., and Christopher J. Dodd , D-Conn., as well as former North Carolina Democratic Sen. John Edwards , Richardson’s plan focuses heavily on disease prevention to avoid costly care required by the nation’s top killers, such as heart disease and cancer. (See the plans put forward by Clinton, Obama, Dodd, and Edwards).

Richardson’s plan also would lower the age requirement for Medicare from 64 to 55, a move he says would reduce costs in the long run by providing younger seniors with access to preventive care, such as cancer screenings.

In addition, Richardson’s plan would broaden implementation of an “Independence at Home” model to coordinate care for beneficiaries with multiple chronic illnesses.

Richardson, a border-state governor who is Hispanic, answered a reporter’s question about whether the United States should provide health care for undocumented immigrants by saying, “You have to have a plan that covers Americans first.”

But he did express dismay in health disparities among blacks and Hispanics.

“I think it’s outrageous that in this country, race plays a major role in how healthy you are.”

Richardson said he supports revitalizing HIV/AIDS outreach efforts for minorities, including needle-exchange programs and condom distribution.

Bridging the health gap between whites and minorities “means bolder plans than we have today,” Richardson said.