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

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; AMENDING THE HEALTH SERVICE CORPS ACT TO INCLUDE DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR INCREASED RECRUITMENT OF VARIOUS HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

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

Section 1. Section 24-1D-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, Chapter 63, Section 2) is amended to read:

"24-1D-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Health Service Corps Act:

A. "corps" means the New Mexico health service corps;

B. "department" means the department of health;

C. "health professional" means a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwife, [or] emergency medical technician-paramedic, dentist or dental hygienist;

D. "physician" means a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathic medicine;

E. "physician assistant" means a physician assistant or osteopathic physician assistant; and

F. "practice site" means a public health clinic or public or private nonprofit primary care clinic that is located in a state-designated medically underserved area or that serves a high-needs population and that uses a sliding fee scale approved by the department."

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--

A. Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2004 to expand access to the New Mexico health service corps, as follows:

(1) two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) to increase the award amounts granted to eligible physicians in the New Mexico health service corps pursuant to the Health Service Corps Act;

(2) one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to add awards for dentists and dental hygienists;

(3) one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to add awards for psychiatrists; and

(4) fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to restore and maintain the budget of the New Mexico health services corps.

B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.