[1] NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only 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:

Regensberg

 

DATE TYPED:

1/29/02

 

HB

158

 

SHORT TITLE:

Dialysis Services

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Esquibel

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

$815.0

 

 

Recurring

GF

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 158 appropriates $815.0 from the general fund to DOH for the start-up and operational costs necessary to provide a dialysis program in Mora county that will make dialysis services available thorough a nonprofit organization for the northeast part of the state.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $815.0 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.

 

DOH indicates the funding required to start up a dialysis center is substantial and far exceeds the appropriation proposed in the bill.

 

Two dialysis companies currently serve northeastern New Mexico.  Fresenius Medical Care (for-profit) has dialysis centers in Las Vegas and Santa Fe.  Currently, there are 5 patients from Mora county receiving dialysis services in Las Vegas or Santa Fe.  Diabetes Clinics Inc. (non-profit) has a dialysis center in Taos and is planning on opening another in Raton.

 

A dialysis center requires a facility, equipment, staffing, relationships with local physicians and hospitals, and a patient base to support the expenses.  The average cost per patient to receive dialysis at a clinic site is $50.0-$60.0 per year.  The appropriation contained in the bill could be used to fund dialysis services for one year for 8-10 indigent patients using existing services.

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

DOH suggests $20.0 could be appropriated to conduct a needs assessment in northeastern New Mexico to determine the actual need for dialysis services and related issues in Mora county.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

DOH reports diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in New Mexico.  Approximately 17% of people over age 40 have diabetes.  Approximately 337 people with diabetes began renal dialysis within the past year.  There are an estimated 279 people diagnosed with diabetes in Mora county, an additional 122 have diabetes but are unaware of it.  DOH has no data on the number of patients in Mora county that require dialysis.

 

RAE/njw

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