44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; INCREASING HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS' REIMBURSEMENTS FOR MEDICAID SERVICES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 27-2-12.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1987, Chapter 269, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

"27-2-12.3. MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT--EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL PHYSICIANS', DENTISTS', OPTOMETRISTS', PODIATRISTS', ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES' AND PSYCHOLOGISTS' SERVICES.--

A. The human services department shall establish a rate, of not less than the rate for medicare part B services, for the reimbursement of physicians, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, advanced practice nurses and psychologists for services rendered to medicaid patients [that provides]. The rate shall provide equal reimbursement for the same or similar services rendered without respect to the date on which [such physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist or psychologist] the health care provider entered into practice in New Mexico [the date on which the physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist or psychologist] or entered into an agreement or contract to provide such services or the location in which such services are to be provided in the state [provided, however, that].

B. The requirements of this section shall not apply when the human services department contracts with entities pursuant to Section 27-2-12.6 NMSA 1978 to negotiate a rate for the reimbursement for services rendered to medicaid patients in the medicaid managed care system."

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Five million dollars ($5,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the human services department for expenditure in fiscal year 2001 for the purpose of increasing medicaid professional reimbursement levels authorized in Section 12-2-12.3 NMSA 1978. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2001 shall revert to the general fund.