SENATE MEMORIAL 20

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

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE STATE DEVELOP A SERVICE PLAN FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER THROUGH A DYNAMIC PLANNING PROCESS THAT BUILDS ON THE TENETS OF PREVIOUS PLANS AND REPORTS BY THE INTERAGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PURCHASING COLLABORATIVE, THE INSURANCE DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION, THE NEW MEXICO AUTISM TASK FORCE AND THE AUTISM OVERSIGHT TEAM, THE NEW MEXICO AUTISM SOCIETY, THE AUTISM PROGRAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT AND DISABILITY, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND OTHER APPROPRIATE STAKEHOLDERS.

     WHEREAS, the legislature of the state of New Mexico recognizes that autism spectrum disorder is the largest growing developmental disability in the world and that one in one hundred ten New Mexicans under the age of eight meets criteria for an autism spectrum disorder; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico legislature has worked diligently with the autism community and state agencies to meet the needs of this growing population; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico legislature understands that the numbers of new diagnoses as well as the needs of underserved early childhood, school-age and adult populations have negatively impacted the development and implementation of adequate services and support for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state be requested to develop a service plan for autism spectrum disorder through a dynamic planning process that builds on the tenets of previous plans and reports by the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative, the insurance division of the public regulation commission, the New Mexico autism task force and the autism oversight team, the New Mexico autism society, the autism programs at the university of New Mexico center for development and disability, individuals and families affected by autism spectrum disorder, and other appropriate stakeholders and that includes at least the following:

          A. access to multi-disciplinary diagnosis for people of all ages;

          B. evidence-based and accessible treatment in the private and public sectors with:

                (1) appropriate behavioral health services included in medicaid modernization that makes available both evidence-based intervention and comprehensive community support services;

                (2) the state employee insurance plan adopting the New Mexico autism insurance mandate;

                (3) reasonable copayments or the waiving of certain copayments, allowing individuals and families access to care; and

                (4) a comprehensive and transparent process that determines the level of care and appropriate support for children with challenging behaviors, with a focus on:

                     (a) support to the individual and family;

                     (b) notice of whether community resources are available or have been exhausted;

                     (c) the role of public schools in funding the educational component of a higher level of care;

                     (d) the development and implementation of autism-specific standards for residential treatment centers;

                     (e) discharge plans that make available training and technical assistance for community providers; and

                     (f) guidance from the public education department on the reintegration of children from residential settings into public schools and on how professional development for student-specific needs will be achieved; and

          C. a means to assess the needs of high functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder who do not qualify for developmental disabilities services and to offer them appropriate levels of support; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the service plan include both the proposed policy development and the funding necessary to begin implementation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the interim legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2012.

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