REQUESTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE DISABILITY AND HEALTH SURVEY SYSTEM.

WHEREAS, both for our state's needs and as required by several federal programs, New Mexico's department of health collects various data for assessing and evaluating the health of all New Mexicans; and

WHEREAS, data collected includes information on various physical and mental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, with expanded information collected from a revised survey system, the department of health can more accurately project coming service and expenditure needs and build these responsibilities into its budget; and

WHEREAS, the number of persons with severe disabilities will increase greatly in the coming decades due to reduced infant mortality, medical advances in treatment of persons with chronic conditions and serious injuries and an increasing elderly population; and

WHEREAS, persons with disabilities have a substantially increased risk for developing additional or secondary health problems and the national center for health statistics estimates costs for such health care to be five times that of individuals without disabilities; and

WHEREAS, the department of health currently engages in regular studies, such as the annual behavioral risk factor surveillance system and the children's chronic conditions register, as well as complementary injury data surveys;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health and the center for development and disability at the school of medicine at the university of New Mexico cooperate in the expansion of their various survey strategies to create a comprehensive statewide disability surveillance system; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include recommendations on funding such a comprehensive statewide disability surveillance system; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent to the dean of the school of medicine at the university of New Mexico and to the secretary of health.