Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
McKinley and Cibola Counties both have high rates of uninsured persons compared to the United
States population (16.7 percent) (table 95), which places many at risk of adverse health outcomes,
and worsening of existing health outcomes. Compared with New Mexico averages, Medicaid
enrollment is higher in both Cibola and McKinley Counties at 29 and 36 percent, respectively
(table 95). The number of households enrolled in Medicaid has increased steadily since 2006
(NMDH, 2011a).
Table 95. Health care insurance and access to health care services
People without health insurance, under 65 years, 2007
(95% CI)
Cibola
County
21.6%
(18.3 – 24.9)
McKinley
County
30.8%
(27.9 – 33.7)
New
Mexico
26.7%
(25.3 – 28.1)
Medicaid enrollment, average per month, 2010* 28.6% 36.4% 23.4%
Number of residents per primary health care provider, 2008 756 749 832
Source: NMDH, 2011a; Abbreviations: CI – confidence interval
Notes: * Medicaid is measured by monthly averages since enrollment changes so frequently. The data provided are the
average of 12 monthly averages for 2010.
Provision of health insurance to the uninsured is associated with improved general health
outcomes, i.e., general health and physical functioning, and mortality; improvement of chronic
conditions, i.e., cardiovascular disease and diabetes, cancer, and depression; improvement of
acute conditions (McWilliams, 2009) and reduced mortality by as much as 5–15 percent (Hadley,
2003).
Access to emergency medical care is also crucial health care services component for prevention
death due to cardiac events, stroke, and serious trauma. In New Mexico, EMS services are
administered by fire departments, hospitals, tribal affiliations as well as non-fire and non-hospital
based private organizations. In Cibola County the current median response time for EMS services
to a medical emergency is 6 minutes; in McKinley it is 7 minutes (NMDH, 2011a). These
response times are some of the lowest in the State.
Health Behaviors
Health behaviors also influence biomedical health outcomes. Smoking is one major health
behavior associated with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Smoking
is also shown to be associated with the negative health impacts of radon, a common exposure in
uranium mines.
Rates of smoking in Cibola and McKinley Counties are similar to the national and State average,
with approximately 17–21 percent of the population reporting being current smokers. Rates of
smoking in youth (Grades 9–12) are slightly higher with approximately 28 percent of youth
reporting regular smoking in Cibola and McKinley Counties (table 96). Rates of adult and youth
smoking did not differ by ethnic group in New Mexico. In New Mexico rates of smoking tobacco
in adults and youth has been decreasing slightly over the past decade (NMDH, 2011a).
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 401