SENATE MEMORIAL 9

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Gregg Schmedes

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A CENTER FOR COMPLEX CARE FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS AND MEDICAL COMPLEXITY IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, a national survey of children's health and data from the federal centers for disease control and prevention highlight the lack of services for children and adults with special health care needs in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, a national survey of children's health sponsored by the maternal and child health bureau of the health resources and services administration, an agency of the United States department of health and human services, examines the physical and emotional health of children from birth up to age seventeen; and

     WHEREAS, the 2018-2019 national survey of children's health estimates that there are ninety thousand nine hundred twenty-four children or youths with special health care needs in New Mexico, or eighteen and seven-tenths percent of the state's population of children seventeen and younger; and 

     WHEREAS, information from the federal centers for disease control and prevention states that twenty-eight percent of adults, or four hundred sixty thousand three hundred fifty-five individuals with disabilities in New Mexico, have some sort of functional limitations; and

     WHEREAS, these children, youth and adults would benefit from a freestanding medical facility where they could be seen, transitioned or transferred to adult care and continue receiving medical care as adults; and

     WHEREAS, there are few systems and resources available in New Mexico to aid pediatric and adult health care providers and children, youth and adults with special health care needs or medical complexities and their families; and

     WHEREAS, it would be more financially sound to keep the health care of New Mexicans with disabilities within the state; and

     WHEREAS, children, youth and adults with disabilities and their families lack a freestanding health care facility where their needs at all phases of life can be met; and

     WHEREAS, research has shown that the lack of effective health care, transition and transfer services and adult health care services as well as fragmentation of care has a negative impact on the health of patients throughout their life spans; and

     WHEREAS, optimal health care is achieved when each person, at every age, receives medically and developmentally appropriate care;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to conduct a study to assess the feasibility of creating a freestanding center for complex care for the children, youth and adults of New Mexico, where they may obtain excellence in care for their special health care needs and medical complexities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health be requested to consider:

          A. the feasibility of a center for complex care and the ways such a center could benefit and provide access for people of all ages with special needs and medical complexity from across New Mexico, including using telehealth services;

          B. strategies to address the shortage of physicians, therapists and other providers who are needed to care for children, youth and adults with special needs and medical complexity;

          C. changes to existing policies, programs or regulations or recommendations on new policies;

          D. an assessment of more effective ways to deliver services to youth with special health care needs as they transition from pediatric to adult care; and

          E. improvements to the efficiency of overall health care delivery to this population to ease the burden on patients and their families and maximize outcomes, including lifelong functioning and well-being for children, youth and adults with special health care needs and medical complexity; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health report its findings and recommendations to the legislative finance committee and the appropriate legislative interim committee; and

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

- 4 -