SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 6

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Jacob R. Candelaria

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A HEALTH CARE WORK FORCE WORKING GROUP TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW MEXICO HEALTH CARE WORK FORCE.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has had a persistent shortage of health care providers, especially in rural areas; and

     WHEREAS, it is projected that by 2030, thirty-three percent of the New Mexico population will be over sixty years of age; and

     WHEREAS, data show that individuals over sixty years of age use more health care services than individuals under sixty years of age; and

     WHEREAS, it is projected that the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act could provide health insurance to as many as three hundred thousand more New Mexicans than are currently insured; and

     WHEREAS, individuals with newfound access to health insurance are expected to begin using more health care services; and

     WHEREAS, it is projected that between 2013 and 2020, New Mexico will receive about six billion dollars ($6,000,000,000) of additional federal funding as a direct result of the federal act, which will result in as much as one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) in additional tax revenue; and

     WHEREAS, health care represents one-sixth of the New Mexico economy, and it is the sector with the largest projected growth;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of health be requested to convene a health care work force working group with membership drawn from the department of health, the human services department, the legislative finance committee, the economic development department, the leadership of the legislative health and human services committee and the New Mexico health policy commission; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the leadership of each house of the legislature be requested to appoint the legislative members of the working group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care work force working group be requested to meet monthly from April through September 2014; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that state agencies, the legislative finance committee and the legislative council service be requested to provide staff to the health care work force working group as appropriate to carry out the work of the health care work force working group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care work force working group create advisory groups made up of representatives from consumer advocacy organizations; health care provider organizations, including hospitals; health professional recruiters; institutions that train health care providers; Native American nations, tribes and pueblos; and organizations representing traditionally underserved populations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care work force working group be requested to receive input and recommendations from the public and from advisory groups for consideration and that the health care work force working group present to the governor and the legislature recommendations and proposed action steps for administrative, legislative, regulatory, operational and financial initiatives necessary to develop the health care work force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care work force working group be requested to make recommendations regarding capturing revenue generated from the federal funds related to the expansion of the state's medicaid program and subsidies for the purchase of health insurance through the New Mexico health insurance exchange; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care work force working group be requested to make recommendations on how available revenue can be used to expand the health care work force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care work force working group be requested to review the effectiveness of existing tax incentives aimed at developing and maintaining the state's health care work force and make recommendations on how those credits may be revised or redirected; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care work force working group present its recommendations to the governor, the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee by October 1, 2014; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president pro tempore of the senate, the executive director of the New Mexico health policy commission, the chair and vice chair of the legislative finance committee, the chair and vice chair of the legislative health and human services committee, the secretary of health, the secretary of human services and the secretary of economic development.

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