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SPONSOR: |
Lopez |
DATE TYPED: |
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HB |
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SHORT TITLE: |
NM Community Health Advocacy Program Study |
SB |
SJM 76 |
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ANALYST: |
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APPROPRIATION
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Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
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FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
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See Narrative |
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(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Responses
Received From
Department
of Health (DOH)
Health
Policy Commission (HPC)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
Senate Joint Memorial 76 directs the New Mexico Department
of Health (DOH) to lead a task force involving the Human Services Department,
the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Labor, The State
Department of Education, the Children, Youth and Families Department, the State
Agency on Aging and appropriate organizations representing the interests of
community health workers.
The work of the task force would center around a study on
the development of a community health advocacy program in New Mexico, including
the program’s methods, structure, financing implementation, and the utilization
of various categories of community health workers. The task force would
evaluate the value of community health workers to the health care delivery
system and their impact on public health outcomes, economic development and
access to health care. The results of
the study, including legislative recommendations to address economic opportunities
for the communities, would be reported to the interim legislative health and
human services committee at its October 2003 meeting.
Significant
Issues
SJM 76 recognizes federal Medicaid requirements
related to appropriate methods of outreach, enrollment, translation services
and federal funding that would accompany the increased use of community health
workers. Further, SJM 76 speaks to the
current state and national health care crisis where this alternative workforce
can be drawn upon to provide better care, provide economic and community
development and increased job opportunities.
DOH believes that expanding the number of community health
workers could have a positive impact on the health and well being of New
Mexicans, especially those who deal with chronic disease. This workforce could
become the front line in an effort to reduce obesity and increase fitness of
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
SJM 76 could have significant impact on the
Department of Health because there is no funding to support the work of the
task force in conducting its study.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
SJM 76 would have significant impact on the Department both
administratively and operationally. In
addition, resources are necessary to lead the study. DOH staff would be needed
to complete much of the work related to the study.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
Health
care service delivery in
In
The community health worker concept is not
new. Community health workers are lay
advocates/advisors who educate and lead people in their communities to attain
increased health and well-being. There
are about 200 community health workers serving their communities throughout
For the last eight
years a Promotores program has been existed at La Familia Medical Center in
A
The American
Public Health Association (2001) has issued a policy statement on the “Recognition
and Support for Community Health Workers’ Contributions to Meeting our Nation’s
Health Care Needs”, that recognizes the strengths community health workers
bring to the health care delivery system and the challenges they encounter.
Certification
of community health workers would help ensure against abuse, neglect or exploitation.
There are community health advocacy programs
throughout the
BD/yr