HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 608

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; PROVIDING FOR HEALTH CARE ACCOUNTABILITY; REQUIRING REPORTING OF EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION FOR RECIPIENTS OF MEDICAID.

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

     Section 1. A new section of the Public Assistance Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] EMPLOYER INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE GATHERED FOR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS.--The department shall collect information on employers of medicaid recipients through a data match with the labor department one time each fiscal year. For purposes of this section, "recipient" includes a person or dependent on whose behalf medicaid benefits are requested and received."

     Section 2. A new section of the Public Assistance Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] REPORT REQUIRED.--The department shall submit a report by November 1, 2006 and annually thereafter to the interim legislative welfare reform oversight committee listing the names of employers who employ twenty-five or more recipients of medicaid benefits. In determining whether the twenty-five-employee threshold is met, the department shall include all medicaid recipients employed by the employer and its subsidiaries at all locations within the state. The report:

          A. shall include the following from each employer or its subsidiary that employs a recipient:

                (1) the location of employment;

                (2) the total number of employees and dependents receiving assistance; and

                (3) the total cost to the state of providing the medicaid benefits to those employees and their dependents;

          B. shall not include the names of the employees; and

          C. shall be made available to the general public."

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