April 9, 1999

The Honorable Raymond G. Sanchez and

Members of the House of Representatives

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable Speaker and Members of the House:

I have this day VETOED and am returning HOUSE BILL 610, as amended,

enacted by the Forty-Fourth Legislature, First Session, 1999.

This legislation would enact the Health Data and Exchange Standards Act which proposes to improve the efficiency of the New Mexico health-care system by imposing industry-wide data standards and standards for the exchange of that data.

This bill grants the New Mexico Health Policy Commission sweeping authority to regulate the content, format and other aspects of virtually all health care information exchanged between almost all health care entities throughout New Mexico. Private health care companies may be required to significantly change both their internal business procedures as well as their computer and claim processing systems. There would be few exceptions and little recourse from this potentially expensive mandate.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor