46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; AMENDING THE PRIMARY CARE CAPITAL FUNDING ACT; ALLOWING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING FROM THE PRIMARY CARE CAPITAL FUND; ALLOWING ELIGIBLE ENTITIES TO REFINANCE CAPITAL PROJECTS THROUGH THE FUND.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 24-1C-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, Chapter 62, Section 9, as amended) is amended to read:

"24-1C-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Primary Care Capital Funding Act:

A. "authority" means the New Mexico finance authority;

B. "capital project" means repair, renovation or construction of a facility; purchase of land; or acquisition of capital equipment of a long-term nature;

C. "department" means the department of health;

D. "eligible entity" means a community-based

nonprofit primary care clinic, behavioral health clinic or hospice that operates in a rural or other health care underserved area of the state and that has assets totaling less than ten million dollars ($10,000,000) and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation for federal income tax purposes;

E. "fund" means the primary care capital fund; and

F. "primary care" means the first level of basic or general health care for an individual's health needs, including diagnostic and treatment services; "primary care" includes the provision of mental health services [if those services are integrated into the eligible entity's service array]."

Section 2. Section 24-1C-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, Chapter 62, Section 11) is amended to read:

"24-1C-5. [REGULATIONS] RULES.--

A. [Prior to September 15, 1994] The department, in conjunction with the authority, shall adopt [regulations] and periodically review and update rules to administer and implement the provisions of the Primary Care Capital Funding Act, including providing for:

(1) the determination of rural or other health care underserved areas of the state in which eligible entities may receive loans or contracts for services from the fund;

(2) procedures and forms for applying for loans or contracts for services for capital projects;

(3) documentation required to be provided by the applicant to justify the need for the capital project;

(4) documentation required to be provided by the applicant to demonstrate that the applicant is an eligible entity;

(5) procedures for review, evaluation and approval of loans and contracts for services, including the programmatic, organizational and financial information necessary to review, evaluate and approve an application;

(6) evaluation of the ability and competence of an applicant to provide efficiently and adequately for the completion of a proposed capital project;

(7) approval of loan and contract for services applications, including provisions that accord priority attention to areas with the greatest need for primary care services;

(8) fair geographic distribution of loans and contracts for services;

(9) requirements for repayment of loans, including payment schedules, interest rates, loan terms and other requirements;

(10) ensuring the state's interest in any capital project [by the filing of a lien equal to the total of the state's financial participation in the project]; and

(11) such other requirements deemed necessary by the department and the authority to ensure that the state receives the primary care services for which the legislature appropriates money and that [protects] protect the state's interest in a capital project.

B. [Regulations] Rules adopted by the department shall become effective when filed in accordance with the provisions of the State Rules Act."

Section 3. Section 24-1C-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, Chapter 62, Section 12, as amended) is amended to read:

"24-1C-6. DEPARTMENT--AUTHORITY--POWERS AND DUTIES.--

A. The department and the authority shall administer the loan programs and contracts for services [established] authorized pursuant to the provisions of the Primary Care Capital Funding Act. The department and authority shall:

(1) enter into joint powers agreements with each other or other appropriate public agencies to carry out the provisions of that act; and

(2) apply to any appropriate federal, state or local governmental agency or private organization for grants and gifts to carry out the provisions of that act or to fund allied community-based health care programs.

B. The department or authority may, instead of a loan, contract for services with an eligible entity to provide free or reduced fee primary care, behavioral health or hospice services for sick and medically indigent persons as reasonably adequate legal consideration for money from the fund to the entity so it may acquire or construct a capital project to provide the services. No more than fifty percent of a loan may be repaid through contracts for services.

C. The department and authority may:

(1) make and enter into contracts and agreements necessary to carry out their powers and duties pursuant to the provisions of the Primary Care Capital Funding Act; and

(2) do all things necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of the Primary Care Capital Funding Act.

D. The authority is responsible for all financial duties of the programs, including:

(1) administering the fund;

(2) accounting for all money received, controlled or disbursed for capital projects in accordance with the provisions of the Primary Care Capital Funding Act;

(3) evaluating and approving loans and contracts for services, including determining financial capacity of an eligible entity;

(4) enforcing contract provisions of loans and contracts for services, including the ability to sue to recover money or property owed the state;

(5) determining interest rates and other financial aspects of a loan and relevant terms of a contract for services; and

(6) performing other duties in accordance with the provisions of the Primary Care Capital Funding Act, [regulations] rules promulgated pursuant to that act or joint powers agreements entered into with the department.

E. The department is responsible for the following duties:

(1) defining sick and medically indigent persons for purposes of the Primary Care Capital Funding Act;

(2) establishing priorities for loans and contracts for services;

(3) determining the appropriateness of the capital project;

(4) evaluating the capability of an applicant to provide and maintain primary care or hospice services;

(5) selecting recipients of loans and persons with whom to contract for services;

(6) determining that capital projects comply with all state and federal licensing and procurement requirements; and

(7) contracting with an eligible entity to provide primary care services without charge or at a reduced fee for sick and medically indigent persons as defined by the department.

F. The authority may make a loan to an eligible entity to acquire, construct, renovate or otherwise improve a capital project, provided there is a finding:

(1) by the department that the project will provide primary care services to sick and medically indigent persons as defined by the department; and

(2) by the authority that there is adequate protection, including [but not limited to] loan guarantees, real property liens, title insurance, security interests in or pledges of accounts and other assets, loan covenants and warranties or restrictions on other encumbrances and pledges for the state funds extended for the loan."

Section 4. A new section of the Primary Care Capital Funding Act is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] REFINANCING OF LOANS.--An eligible entity may refinance loans for capital projects through the authority."