HOUSE BILL 766

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Fred Luna

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; CREATING A HEALTH CARE FACILITY ACCESS TASK FORCE.

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

     Section 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--HEALTH CARE FACILITY ACCESS TASK FORCE--CREATION--SUPPORT.--

          A. The "health care facility access task force" is created. The task force shall consist of twelve members as follows:

                (1) the secretary of health or the secretary's designee;

                (2) the attorney general or the attorney general's designee;

                (3) three members of the house of representatives, at least one of whom shall represent the minority party, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

                (4) three members of the senate, at least one of whom shall represent the minority party, appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate;

                (5) two public members, one to represent a for-profit health care organization and one to represent a nonprofit health care organization;

                (6) the superintendent of the insurance division of the public regulation commission or the superintendent's designee; and

                (7) a public member, representing health care advocates.

          B. The chair of the health care facility access task force shall be elected by the task force. The task force shall meet at the call of the chair.

          C. Members of the task force shall serve from the time of their appointment through October 31, 2005. On November 1, 2005, the task force is terminated.

          D. The public members of the task force shall receive per diem and mileage pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act.

          E. The task force shall:

                (1) study the impact of health care facilities providing outpatient therapeutic services that merge or consolidate in both rural and urban areas of the state, including:

                     (a) the feasibility of requiring the facility to demonstrate the effect on patient access;

                     (b) the impact on patients and consumers in rural areas when facilities merge or consolidate in rural areas; and

                     (c) the economic effect in rural areas; and

                (2) no later than December 31, 2005, report its findings to the second session of the forty-seventh legislature.

          F. The department of health shall provide administrative support for the task force.

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