SENATE PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE MEMORIAL 20

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

A MEMORIAL

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

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

     WHEREAS, the legislature understands that the numbers of new diagnoses as well as the needs of underserved early childhood, school-age and adult populations have negatively affected 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 develop a service plan for autism spectrum disorder, through a dynamic planning process led by the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative, with participation by the insurance division of the public regulation commission, the New Mexico autism task force, the autism oversight team, the New Mexico autism society, the autism programs at the university of New Mexico center for development and disability, the New Mexico state university special education and communication disorders autism initiative, individuals and families affected by autism spectrum disorder and other stakeholders, that builds on the tenets of previous plans and reports and that includes the following:

          A. access to multidisciplinary 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 the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative, through work with the other named stakeholders, deliver and report on the plan, which includes both the proposed policy development and the funding necessary to begin implementation, to the interim legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2012; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative, the insurance division of the public regulation commission, the New Mexico autism task force, the autism oversight team, the New Mexico autism society, the university of New Mexico center for development and disability, the New Mexico state university special education and communication disorders autism initiative and the interim legislative health and human services committee.

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