REQUESTING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO UTILIZE LOCAL RESOURCES TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT IN THE STATE CHILD HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, the state child health insurance program is an excellent opportunity to ensure that New Mexico children from low-income families receive health services; and

WHEREAS, enrollment of New Mexico children in the state child health insurance program has exceeded some expectations with current figures reported at six thousand two hundred fifty-three; and

WHEREAS, both the department of health and the human services department have and continue to make efforts to enroll eligible children; and

WHEREAS, there are an estimated sixty to seventy thousand children eligible for medicaid who are not enrolled; and

WHEREAS, throughout New Mexico there are various local public and private agencies, especially nonprofit groups, that work directly with children in need of health services; and

WHEREAS, it is within the power of the human services department as administrator of the program to determine how enrollment funds are expended; and

WHEREAS, these local agencies and groups often have close one-to-one relationships with thousands of children across the state and have the confidence of the entire family, thereby opening the possibility of overcoming reluctance to apply for government programs; and

WHEREAS, contracting with or working through local agencies may well result in substantially increased enrollment in the state child health insurance program;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the human services department make every effort to utilize the resources of local agencies and groups who might be very effective in enrolling eligible children in the state child health insurance program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be sent to the secretary of human services.