SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 7

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR MAXIMIZING THE LEVERAGING OF FEDERAL MEDICAID DOLLARS.

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico has availed itself of the opportunity offered pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to expand eligibility for the state medicaid program, thereby greatly increasing access to health care for thousands of New Mexicans as well as reimbursement for New Mexico health care providers; and

     WHEREAS, partly as a result of expanding medicaid eligibility, the rate of uninsured adults has declined from over eighteen percent in 2013 to thirteen and one-tenth percent as of the second quarter of 2015; and

     WHEREAS, according to a 2015 legislative finance committee report, between fiscal years 2014 and 2015, there has been a thirty percent drop in uncompensated care among the state's safety net care pool hospitals, and this drop is attributable in part to the expansion of medicaid; and

     WHEREAS, federal law contemplates a reduction in the burden of uncompensated care in the state; therefore, federal reimbursements are being limited accordingly; and

     WHEREAS, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act offers multiple incentives and opportunities for states to maximize medicaid funding; and

     WHEREAS, the 2015 legislative finance committee report identifies many potential opportunities for the human services department, the department of health and community health care providers to maximize their leveraging of medicaid funding that have not yet been attempted; and

     WHEREAS, maximizing federal medicaid dollars for services currently provided by the state will reduce the burden on the general fund while increasing access to health care;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of human services be requested to convene a working group that includes representatives from the department of health, the children, youth and families department, legislative finance committee staff, the New Mexico association of counties, the New Mexico primary care association and the New Mexico hospital association to investigate and develop strategies for maximizing federal medicaid dollars for the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative finance committee be requested to provide staff to the working group to assist it in carrying out its work; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be requested to receive input and recommendations from the public; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that by November 1, 2016, the working group be requested to report to the governor, the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee its recommendations and proposed action steps for administrative, legislative, regulatory, operational and financial initiatives necessary to maximize federal medicaid funds for the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of human services, the director of the legislative finance committee and the chair and vice chair of the legislative health and human services committee.

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