Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us). Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR	Park		DATE TYPED	2/5/04		HB	383
SHORT TITLE		Bernalillo & Sandoval Counties Health Clinic				SB
					ANALYST		Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$100.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB1 that appropriates $1,200,000 from the general fund to the Department of Health (DOH) in fiscal year 2005 (FY05) to leverage federal funds and increase the capacity of primary health care clinics to provide access to medical, dental and behavioral health services in New Mexico.

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act which provides annual funding under the competitively allocated RPHCA program.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 383 appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health to contract with a health clinic serving the low-income population in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties.

Significant Issues

DOH currently funds primary care clinics statewide through a competitive process pursuant to the Rural Primary Health Care Act (RPHCA). Funding is currently allocated to primary care clinics in both Sandoval and Bernalillo counties that serve low-income populations from both counties. The HB383 appropriation would be related to the current RPHCA fund.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 05 shall revert to the General Fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

HB 383 would have some administrative impact upon the DOH, but could be absorbed within current staffing and resources.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Consideration could be given to increasing RPHCA funding to allow for competitive “New Start” funding and/or existing clinic expansion funding.

It is unclear if the appropriation requires a separate RFP specific to Sandoval and Bernalillo county eligible primary care clinics, or simply be included in the overall RPHCA budget for competitive allocation.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Federal government has designated all or part of 28 New Mexico counties as either medical or dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). A network of community-based primary care centers meets the healthcare needs of underserved New Mexicans. This network provides basic services to more than 230,000 patients each year. The RPHCA Program, administered by the DOH, provides financial support though competitive application to more than 80 clinics in the network. Indigent patients receive services according to sliding fee schedules, based upon their ability to pay.

A new “health commons”, scheduled to open in the spring of 2004, is under construction in southern Sandoval county. This innovative approach, called the Family Wellness Program, will be a one-stop facility where families can be seen as a unit and receive multiple services during one appointment time. Services will include public health, primary care, behavioral health, domestic violence prevention early childhood development and workforce training.

BD/yr