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	Campos		DATE TYPED	1/30/2004		HB
SHORT TITLE		Pharmacy Services in Rural Care Clinics				SB	SB 278
					ANALYST		Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$1,200.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB 1: Increase Capacity of Primary Care Clinics

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

New Mexico Health Policy Commission (HPC)

Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)

UNM Health Services Center

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 278 appropriates $1.2 million from the general fund to DOH for the purpose of increasing the number of pharmacy technicians and services available in primary health care clinics in rural and medically underserved areas of the state pursuant to the Rural Primary Health Care Act.

Significant Issues

DOH states New Mexico, like many other states, have been experiencing decreasing availability of pharmacy professionals and in particular for nonprofit primary care centers. This bill would help address this problem by providing additional funding. However, the bill aims to increase the number of “pharmacy technicians” who must be supervised by an on-site pharmacist. RLD states that the ratio of pharmacy technician to pharmacist cannot exceed 4 to 1. This bill could help centers with workload but would not alleviate conditions where a registered pharmacist is not available. RLD advises that residents of Playas and Reserve would benefit from this appropriation because of the distances these individuals have to drive to obtain pharmacy services.

HPC advises additional pharmacy technicians could assist rural clinics obtained reduced prices on drugs from pharmaceutical companies through the Prescription Assistance Program by assisting in processing, expediting, and tracking applications for clients. A study of County Indigent Fund administrators found at least nine counties reported a high percentage of their residents facing barriers to obtaining prescription drugs and additional pharmacy technicians may help to improve the situation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $1.2 million contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005 shall revert to the general fund.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. Should registered pharmacist be included in this bill?

GAC/yr