45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002
RELATING TO THE CONSOLIDATED PURCHASING OF HEALTH CARE BENEFITS; PROVIDING EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE BENEFITS; AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 13-7-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1997, Chapter 74, Section 4) is amended to read:
"13-7-4. MANDATORY CONSOLIDATED PURCHASING.--
A. The publicly funded health care agencies shall enter into a cooperative consolidated purchasing effort to provide plans of health care benefits for the benefit of eligible participants of the respective agencies. The request for proposal shall set forth one or more plans of health care benefits and shall include accommodation of fully funded arrangements as well as varying degrees of self-funded pool options.
B. A consolidated purchasing request for proposals for all health care benefits by the publicly funded health care agencies shall be issued on or before July 1, 1999 and any contracts for health care benefits renewed or issued on or after July 1, 2000 shall be the result of consolidated purchasing.
C. All requests for proposals issued as part of the consolidated purchasing shall include at least one distinct service area consisting of the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Proposals on a distinct service area shall be evaluated separately.
D. A school district within the public school insurance authority is exempt from mandatory participation in the consolidated purchasing for dental care and eye care benefits provided that the school district offers dental care and eye care benefits to its employees. The school district may enter into a joint powers agreement with a county, municipality, state educational institution or other political subdivision to self-insure for dental care and eye care benefits."
Section 2. Section 13-7-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2001, Chapter 351, Section 1) is amended to read:
"13-7-5. CONSOLIDATED PURCHASING FOR OTHER PERSONS.--
A. Counties, municipalities, state educational institutions and other political subdivisions that wish to use the consolidated purchasing single process for the procurement of health care benefits shall create or enter into an existing association, cooperative or other mutual alliance to create larger pools of eligible participants.
B. Counties, municipalities, state educational institutions and other political subdivisions that wish to use the consolidated purchasing single process shall, through their respective association, cooperative or mutual alliance, participate in the subsequent consolidated purchasing single process with the publicly funded health care agencies.
C. Counties, municipalities, state educational institutions and other political subdivisions that wish to use the consolidated purchasing single process are exempt from mandatory participation in the consolidated purchasing for dental care and eye care benefits. The county, municipality, state educational institution or other political subdivision may enter into a joint powers agreement with another political subdivision to self-insure for dental care and eye care benefits."