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| SPONSOR: | Sandoval | DATE TYPED: | 2/01/00 | HB | 236 | ||
| SHORT TITLE: | "Best Practice" Schizophrenic Drug Program | SB | |||||
| ANALYST: | Esquibel | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY00 | FY01 | FY00 | FY01 | ||
| $ 1,107.0 | Recurring | General Fund | |||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to HB2/aHAFC, SB2, HB23, HB235
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
NM Health Policy Commission
Children, Youth and Families Department
Department of Health
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
The bill appropriates $1,107.0 to support the continuation of a "best practice" drug program for use on mentally ill persons suffering from schizophrenia.
Significant Issues
The Department of Health testified to interim legislative committees in Fall, 1999, regarding the trial program for "best practice" drug treatment for mental illness requested in HJM46 (1999). This trial program was funded by the pharmaceutical companies and, if it is to be continued, will require an appropriation from the Legislature as contained in HB236.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The bill appropriates $1,107.0 in general fund in FY01 to the Department of Health (DOH).
Both HB2/aHAFC and SB2 contain appropriations for $18,880.1 in general fund and $1,010.0 in federal block grant funds for community programs for mental health.
The Health Policy Commission indicates of the current amount of funding in DOH's community programs for mental health, $17,746.8 of the general fund is contracted to statewide programs providing an array of services such as those included in the provisions of HB236. The remainder of current funding in DOH's community programs for mental health is used for set-asides for various services.
The provisions of HB236 could also be funded through utilization of the County Indigent Fund program.
Finally, the Department of Health indicates as an alternative to funding the $1,107.0 appropriation requested in the bill, it could request pharmaceutical companies to maintain the provision of medications for another year.
CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP
House Bill 236 relates to the General Appropriation Acts, HB2/aHAFC and SB2, which contain funding for behavioral health services and crisis intervention. HB23 also contains funding for behavioral health services and crisis intervention. Finally, House Bill 236 relates to HB235 which also appropriates additional funds for services for the mentally ill.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The Health Policy Commission indicates the bill could be amended to read that the Department of Health shall require that through contract provisions, RFP, or rule, community mental health providers must provide "best practice" drug therapy as specified in HB236 within existing funding levels contained in the General Appropriation Act.
RAE/gm