SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 18

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Richard C. Martinez

FOR THE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE VETERANS' SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH THE INTERAGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PURCHASING COLLABORATIVE, THE NEW MEXICO VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER 358 AND OTHER NECESSARY ORGANIZATIONS TO STUDY THE UNMET BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF VETERANS IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, veterans have fought to defend the country, and they deserve to be treated with the best health care possible; and

     WHEREAS, state and federal governments have not supplied sufficient services to provide for the necessary behavioral health and primary health care needs of veterans; and

     WHEREAS, comprehensive, reliable, consistent data is essential to planning the support that is needed to provide for the necessary behavioral health and primary health care needs of veterans in the state; and

     WHEREAS, the withdrawal of military forces from Iraq by the end of 2011, and from Afghanistan by 2014, will significantly increase the number of veterans needing behavioral health and primary health care services; and

     WHEREAS, it is important to identify the gaps in behavioral health and primary health care services for veterans currently living in the state, and for veterans that are soon to be coming home;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the veterans' services department be requested to collaborate with the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative, the New Mexico veterans health administration, Vietnam veterans of America Chapter 358 and other necessary organizations to study the unmet behavioral health and primary health care needs of veterans in the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the findings of the study be reported to the military and veterans' affairs committee on or before November 1, 2012; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of veterans' services.

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