HOUSE BILL 441

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Daniel R. Foley

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; PROVIDING A MINIMUM MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR CERTAIN SERVICES.

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

     Section 1. MINIMUM MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATE.--

          A. Notwithstanding any provision of the NMSA 1978 to the contrary, the medicaid reimbursement rate established by the human services department for each visit by a medicaid patient to a health care practitioner, including those rates paid under contracts with managed care systems, shall not be less than:

                (1) seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for fiscal year 2005; and

                (2) for fiscal year 2006 and each subsequent fiscal year, a rate equal to the rate for the previous fiscal year multiplied by the percentage increase in the consumer price index for medical care costs in the preceding calendar year as published by the United States department of labor.

          B. As used in this section, "health care practitioner" means anyone licensed or certified to provide health care services in this state and includes nurses, physicians, dentists, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, acupuncturists, psychiatrists, psychologists and physical therapists.

- 2 -