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	Maes		DATE TYPED	02/05/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		Santa Fe Low-Income Health Care Services				SB	198/aSPAC
					ANALYST		Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$300.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB1- which appropriates additional funds to the Rural Primary Health Care Act (RPHCA) Program of the Department of Health. The RPHCA Program currently provides support to community-based primary care centers in Santa Fe County who serve low-income families.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SPAC Amendment

The Senate Public Affairs Committee Amendment removes the Department of Health as the recipients of the funds and provides the funds to the DFA, Local Government Division.

The amendment addresses some of the concerns identified under “Other Substantive Issues” below by eliminating the various options of health care that are available under the DOH. The amendment does not address questions on the specific focus of the bill. See “Technical Issues below.

Synopsis of Original Bill

Senate Bill 198 appropriates $300,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Health in Fiscal Year 2005 to provide health care services to low-income families in Santa Fe County.

Significant Issues

SB198 is very broad in the projected use of its proposed appropriation. Health care services for low-income families could include many different possibilities administered either directly by the Department of Health or indirectly through contract. It may be advisable to identify the specific intent of the bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $300.0 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

SB 198 would have some administrative impact upon the DOH. The additional appropriation would require additional procurement, contracting and monitoring activities. The DOH could administer this with current staff.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The bill may wish to clarify the specific focus of SB 198 to assure the proposed appropriation is used correctly. Reference is made to “Other Substantive Issues” below.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Health care services are currently provided to low-income families by a wide variety of different agencies including the local hospitals, community-based primary care centers, EMS services, public health offices and private health care practitioners. Without clear guidance, the Department of Health could alternatively use the appropriation to supplement its public health office operations, contract with several community-based primary care centers, enhance the Healthier Kids Fund, or even provide Santa Fe County supplemental funding for its County Indigent Claims Program.

BD/dm:yr