SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8

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

INTRODUCED BY

Dede Feldman

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING AN EXAMINATION OF THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS AND METHODS OF PERMITTING BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE WITH A PUBLIC PURCHASING COLLABORATIVE.

     WHEREAS, there is no single domestic issue more important to citizens in New Mexico and across the country than health care, health care access and affordable health insurance; and

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico is in the process of implementing special programs to assist the uninsured, and the legislature is considering measures to strengthen collaborative insurance purchasing efforts in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the state permits and encourages insurance purchasing cooperation between several public bodies, including the state public school insurance authority, the Albuquerque public school insurance authority, the general services department and the retiree health care authority; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's over four hundred thousand uninsured do not have adequate access to the appropriate health care that allows persons to avoid using the emergency room for primary care; and

     WHEREAS, the state and its taxpayers are legitimate and necessary negotiators in the financing of health insurance; and

     WHEREAS, premiums for health care insurance and health care costs continue to account for an ever-increasing share of both employers' and employees' incomes; and

     WHEREAS, small business taxpayers are severely burdened with multiple paperwork and reporting requirements by governmental entities; and

     WHEREAS, these same businesses are required to invest time and to buy services to meet these extensive requirements and are required to pay taxes, fees and assessments to each of these various governmental entities; and

     WHEREAS, these same businesses are the backbone of their communities, participating in many civic, fraternal and business organizations that volunteer time and money to improve life for their fellow citizens; and

     WHEREAS, businesses wanting to attract and retain high- quality employees need to be able to afford to offer health insurance as an employment benefit; and

     WHEREAS, a stronger collaborative health insurance purchasing effort by state governmental entities provides an excellent vehicle for containing growth in costs; and

     WHEREAS, such an effort also provides an excellent opportunity to study the potential effects and methods of authorizing private participation in public purchase of health insurance;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the human services department and the New Mexico health policy commission, with the cooperation of the insurance division of the public regulation commission and the risk management division of the general services department, study the potential effects and methods of authorizing private businesses and individuals to join a public health insurance purchasing collaborative; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this examination address the impact on the number of uninsured New Mexicans, the growth in health insurance costs, the effects on the business community and the effects on the private group and individual insurance markets in the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there be input from interested individuals, representatives from small businesses, business groups, public employers, employee groups and health care advocates; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the final report, including legislative recommendations, be presented to the New Mexico legislative council, the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee at their respective December 2004 meetings; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the human services department, the New Mexico health policy commission, the general services department, the interagency benefits advisory committee, the insurance division of the public regulation commission, the New Mexico legislative council, the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee.

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