[1] NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the stand­ing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibili­ty for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

 

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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Begaye

 

DATE TYPED:

01/22/02

 

HB

24

 

SHORT TITLE:

Statewide Rural Health Care

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Esquibel

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

$5,850.0

 

 

 

Recurring

GF

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)      

 

Relates to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act of approximately $11 million in general fund for rural primary health care services.

 

Duplicates SB22

                                                                                                                                                           

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

 

No Response

 

Human Services Department (HSD)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

HB24 appropriates $5,850.0 in FY02 and FY03 from the general fund to DOH for the purpose of contracting with rural primary health care clinics statewide for the following:  to serve 18,000 new clients at new clinic locations statewide ($1,650.0); for expanded prescription drug dispensation capacity at various clinics statewide ($1,200.0); to support medical and dental staff ($2,000.0); and to maintain current service levels and retain non-clinical staff ($1,000.0).

 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $5,850.0 for FY02 and FY03 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY03 shall revert to the general fund.

 

DUPLICATION

 

HB24 duplicates SB22.

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

DOH reports the bill does not provide a definition of rural or primary health care clinic, nor does it refer to the ongoing Rural Primary Health Care Act (RPHCA) program, which also supports primary health care clinics.  The relationship between rural primary health care clinics, as intended by the bill, and community-based primary care clinics as targeted under RPHCA, is unclear.

 

DOH suggests the following language on page 1, line 18, “… and 2003 to contract with primary care centers as defined in the Rural Primary Health Care Act, 1978 NMSA 24-1A-1.”

 

RAE/njw

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