AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; INCREASING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE NEW MEXICO HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION; REQUIRING THAT A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS HAVE NO FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY.

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

     Section 1. Section 9-7-11.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1991, Chapter 139, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "9-7-11.2. NEW MEXICO HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION CREATED--COMPOSITION--DUTIES.--

          A. There is created the "New Mexico health policy commission", which is administratively attached to the department of finance and administration.

          B. The New Mexico health policy commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate to reflect the ethnic, economic, geographic and professional diversity of the state. A majority of the commission members shall have no pecuniary or fiduciary interest in the health services industry while serving or for three years preceding appointment to the commission. Three members shall be appointed for one-year terms, three members shall be appointed for two-year terms, three members shall be appointed for three-year terms and all subsequent appointments shall be made for three-year terms.

          C. The New Mexico health policy commission shall meet at the call of the chair and shall meet not less than quarterly. The chair shall be elected from among the members of the commission. Members of the New Mexico health policy commission shall not be paid but shall receive per diem and mileage expenses as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act.

          D. The New Mexico health policy commission shall establish task forces as needed to make recommendations to the commission on various health issues. Task force members may include individuals who have expertise or a pecuniary or fiduciary interest in the health services industry. Voting members of a task force may receive mileage expenses if they:

                (1) are members who represent consumer interests;

                (2) are individuals who were not appointed to represent the views of the organization or agency for which they work; or

                (3) represent an organization that has a policy of not reimbursing travel expenses of employees or representatives for travel to meetings.

          E. The New Mexico health policy commission shall:

                (1) develop a plan for and monitor the implementation of the state's health policy;

                (2) obtain and evaluate information from a broad spectrum of New Mexico's society to develop and monitor the implementation of the state's health policy;

                (3) obtain and evaluate information relating to factors that affect the availability and accessibility of health services and health care personnel in the public and private sectors;

                (4) perform needs assessments on health personnel, health education and recruitment and retention and make recommendations regarding the training, recruitment, placement and retention of health professionals in underserved areas of the state;

                (5) prepare and publish an annual report describing the progress in addressing the state's health policy and planning issues. The report shall include a workplan of goals and objectives for addressing the state's health policy and planning issues in the upcoming year;

                (6) distribute the annual report to the governor, appropriate state agencies and interim legislative committees and interested parties;

                (7) establish a process to prioritize recommendations on program development, resource allocation and proposed legislation;

                (8) provide information and analysis on health issues;

                (9) serve as a catalyst and synthesizer of health policy in the public and private sectors;

                (10) respond to requests by the executive and legislative branches of government; and

                (11) ensure that any behavioral health projects, including those relating to mental health and substance abuse, are conducted in compliance with the requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

HB 374

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