46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO HEALTH; REQUIRING THE CONSOLIDATION OF ALL ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS PURSUANT TO THE HEALTH CARE PURCHASING ACT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 13-7-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2001, Chapter 351, Section 3) is amended to read:

"13-7-7. CONSOLIDATED ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS.--

A. By December 1, 2001, the publicly funded health care agencies, political subdivisions and other persons participating in the consolidated purchasing single process pursuant to the Health Care Purchasing Act shall cooperatively study and provide a status report on the consolidation of administrative functions to the legislative health and human services committee and the governor.

B. By December 31, 2003, the publicly funded health care agencies, political subdivisions and other persons participating in the consolidated purchasing single process pursuant to the Health Care Purchasing Act shall consolidate, standardize and administer [the] all administrative functions [that those entities can effectively and efficiently administer as reflected in the study] necessary for the consolidated purchasing single process.

C. The publicly funded health care agencies, political subdivisions and other persons participating in the consolidated purchasing single process pursuant to the Health Care Purchasing Act may enter into a joint powers agreement pursuant to the Joint Powers Agreements Act with the publicly funded health care agencies and political subdivisions to determine assessments or provisions of resources to consolidate, standardize and administer the consolidated purchasing single process and subsequent activities pursuant to the Health Care Purchasing Act. The publicly funded health care agencies, political subdivisions and other persons participating in the consolidated purchasing single process pursuant to the Health Care Purchasing Act may enter into contracts with nonpublic persons to provide the service of determining assessments or provision of resources for consolidation, standardization and administrative activities.

D. Each agency will retain its responsibility to determine policy direction of the benefit plans, plan development, training and coordination with respect to participants and its benefits staff, as well as to respond to benefits eligibility inquiries and establish and enforce eligibility rules."