A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES PREPARE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS ON CHILDREN'S MEDICAID BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

     WHEREAS, the human services department provides invaluable services to New Mexico families through the agency's medicaid behavioral health programs for children; and

     WHEREAS, at the request of the governor and the legislature, the human services department will undertake a significant project to substantially improve these programs, beginning July 1, 2005; and

     WHEREAS, substantial public funds are spent each year so that these programs can provide essential services to the vulnerable young citizens of this great state; and

     WHEREAS, a significant portion of these public funds is spent on the private and profitable management and oversight of these services;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of human services be requested to report, on or before October 1, 2006 and each October 1 thereafter until 2010, to the governor, the legislature and the public the amounts and proportions of federal and state medicaid funds that have been expended on private and public management of the children's medicaid behavioral health programs versus the amounts and proportions of federal and state funds that have been paid to providers for direct services for each fiscal year ending the June 30 prior to the respective report; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of human services include in these reports such additional information as the secretary deems necessary and relevant to explain the value received for these expenditures and to establish that the comparisons are accurate and valid; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of human services.