SENATE MEMORIAL 48

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Richard C. Martinez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT FOR HEALTH CARE DELIVERED TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE CUSTODY OF COUNTY DETENTION FACILITIES.

     WHEREAS, county detention facilities provide health care, including mental health care, to individuals in the custody of county detention facilities; and

     WHEREAS, county detention facilities experience serious difficulties in obtaining fair rates from health care providers; and

     WHEREAS, the problem of obtaining fair health care provider rates is exacerbated by the fact that individuals in custody automatically lose medicaid eligibility upon entry into the county detention system; and

     WHEREAS, the inability of county detention facilities to secure affordable health care provider rates limits the ability of county governments to be appropriately accountable to local taxpayers for these costs; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico association of counties seeks to implement policy that would require health care providers that receive any state taxpayer money to charge county detention facilities at the same reimbursement rates they charge for medicaid or any other state program in which the providers participate;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico health policy commission convene a task force consisting of representatives from the New Mexico association of counties, the department of health, the human services department, health care providers who provide care to county detention facility inmates, the corrections department, the New Mexico medical society and the New Mexico primary care association; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be charged with developing recommendations for health care provider reimbursement for health care delivered to individuals in county detention facility custody; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force present recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the New Mexico health policy commission, the president of the New Mexico association of counties, the chair and vice chair of the 2008 legislative health and human services committee, the secretary of health, the secretary of human services, the secretary of corrections, the president of the New Mexico medical society and the president of the New Mexico primary care association.

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