45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

REQUESTING THAT THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WORK TO RAISE MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, the medicare reimbursement rates for health care providers in New Mexico are among the lowest in the country; and

WHEREAS, the medicare program pays health care providers in New Mexico a lower rate than it pays states with larger urban populations; and

WHEREAS, medicare spending in New Mexico averages about sixty-seven percent of the national average; and

WHEREAS, congress recognized the geographic disparities for reimbursements within the "Medicare+Choice" program by raising the minimum reimbursement for rural and metropolitan communities of the type and size found in New Mexico and other western states; and

WHEREAS, medicare beneficiaries in New Mexico were in danger of losing medicare health maintenance organization coverage until congress acted to adjust reimbursement rates; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico is predominantly a rural state, and medicare accounts for almost one-half of patient care in rural hospitals, compared with about one-third in urban hospitals; and

WHEREAS, medicaid and commercial insurance reimbursement rates are sometimes linked to medicare reimbursement rates or methodology; and

WHEREAS, medicare reimbursement is sometimes based on historical information that quickly becomes obsolete in a dynamic health care industry;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to initiate legislation, and urge congress to pass such legislation, that would provide a more equitable medicare reimbursement formula and methodology for rural areas, based on current and appropriate health care economic factors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation.