HOUSE BILL 185

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Jim Trujillo

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE FOR COMPLETION OF WORK RELATING TO A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE COST STUDY AS REQUIRED BY LAWS 2003, CHAPTER 380.

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

     Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--Two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative council service for expenditure in fiscal year 2005 to support the legislative health and human services committee in conducting a comprehensive study as required by Laws 2003, Chapter 380 and as a complement to the federal health resources and services administration state planning grant awarded to the human services department. The legislative health and human services committee, in consultation with the New Mexico health policy commission, shall work with the human services department, the department of health, the children, youth and families department, the state agency on aging, other state agencies that provide health care services or programs directly or indirectly, health care provider associations and consumer advocate groups. The study shall produce data and information on state and personal health care expenditures; assess the impact of health care spending on the health care industry and the state's economy; develop an evaluation of compensated and uncompensated costs; analyze state and national health care reform efforts over the previous fifteen years; and develop recommendations on approaches to provide health care coverage and access for all New Mexicans. The purpose of the study is to develop a baseline of health care expenditures that will provide a reference for comparison to other states; develop and cost out various health plan benefit models; use economic and finance forecasting models; and identify options for health care coverage and access that the executive and legislature may consider to reduce the number of uninsured. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005 shall revert to the general fund.

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