REQUESTING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP OPTIONS FOR REQUESTING A WAIVER PURSUANT TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT TO PROVIDE MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR ADULTS WITH INCOMES UP TO ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

WHEREAS, it is the health policy of the state of New Mexico to ensure that all New Mexicans have accessible, available and affordable basic health services regardless of their socioeconomic status; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico had the fifth highest unemployment rate in the nation in 1999; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico had over twenty percent of its population living in poverty in 1999 compared to less than twelve percent nationally; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico adults age nineteen to sixty-four had a 1999 uninsured rate of twenty-nine percent compared to seventeen percent nationally; and

WHEREAS, the federal government provides various and flexible options to increase health coverage through medicaid; and

WHEREAS, the federal government generally provides matching funds at a rate of three to one;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the human services department develop options for requesting a waiver pursuant to the Social Security Act to provide medicaid coverage for adults with incomes up to one hundred percent of the federal poverty level; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the human services department present its options, before submission to the federal health care financing administration, to the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee by October 1, 2001; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the human services department, the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee.