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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR
Garcia, MH
DATE TYPED
02-28-05
HB
504
SHORT TITLE
Dona Ana Dental Hygienist Education Program
SB
ANALYST
Woods
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
$200.0
Recurring General Fund
Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriations Act.
Duplicates SB31
Relates to HB107, HB503, SB31, SB131, SB354, SB342, SB397, SB398
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
New Mexico Department of Health (DOH)
Commission on Higher Education (CHE)
New Mexico Health Policy Commission (HPC)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 504 – Making an Appropriation to Dona Ana Branch Community College for the es-
tablishment of a Dental Hygienist Education Program – appropriates $200,000 from the general
fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University Dona Ana Branch Community
College for expenditure in FY06 for the purpose of establishing an accredited dental hygiene
educational program to prepare graduates to become licensed dental hygienists. Any unex-
pended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the general fund.
Significant Issues
DOH notes that New Mexico is experiencing a shortage of oral health professionals and the pro-
pg_0002
House Bill 504 -- Page 2
posed appropriation in this bill would begin to address the shortage of dental hygienists. Increas-
ing the number of trained, certified and licensed oral health professionals will help reduce oral
health disparities, particularly for children.
CHE observes that this request was not in the list of priority projects submitted by the NMSU
Board of Regents to CHE for review. Accordingly, the request was not included in the commis-
sion’s funding recommendation for FY06.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
DOH indicates that this bill is consistent with the DOH strategic plan Program Area 9, Strategic
Direction: Achieve excellence and accountability in administration and services; Objective 3:
Increase the health workforce supply, in collaboration with other entities in New Mexico.
HPC indicates that there is a technical difference between a two-year dental hygiene program
and a four-year dental hygiene program: the two-year offers an associate degree, while the four-
year offers a bachelors degree. This, however, has no effect on licensing issues, for an associates
degree is licensed the same in any states as a bachelors degree. The significance is that the cost
of a four-year program is, obviously, greater than the two-year program and the graduate turn-
over rate is slower for the four-year program.
HPC suggests that New Mexico needs both types of programs: the two-year program for rapid
turnover for dental hygiene providers introduced into the workforce, and the four-year program
which would provide dental hygiene providers but would also produce those dental hygiene
graduates who would be eligible for educational positions. Using this strategy, New Mexico will
not have to rely on out-of-state programs for production of its teaching core for dental hygiene
programs.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The $200,000 proposed appropriation in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any
unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the general
fund.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriations Act.
Duplicates SB31 in that SB31 also seeks to appropriate $200,000 from the general fund to the
Board of Regents of New Mexico State University Dona Ana Branch Community College for
expenditure in FY06 for the purpose of establishing an accredited dental hygiene educational
program to prepare graduates to become licensed dental hygienists.
Relates to SB354 in that SB354 seeks to appropriate $200,000 from the general fund to the
Board of Regents of New Mexico State University for expenditure in FY06 for the Dona Ana
Branch Community College to develop and implement a two-year dental hygiene program
Relates to SB342 in that SB342 seeks to appropriate $150,000 from the general fund to the
Board of Regents of Eastern New Mexico University for expenditure in FY06 to establish an ac-
pg_0003
House Bill 504 -- Page 3
credited dental hygienist educational program at the Roswell branch to prepare graduates to be-
come licensed dental hygienists.
Relates to SB397 in that SB397 seeks to appropriate $45,000 from the general fund to the Com-
mission on Higher Education for expenditure in FY06 to work with a community organization to
develop and implement a statewide interactive dental distance education program.
Relates to SB398 in that SB398 seeks to appropriate $150,000 from the general fund to the
Board of Regents of Eastern New Mexico University for expenditure in FY06 for the Roswell
branch campus to develop and implement a four-year dental hygiene program.
Relates to HB503 in that HB503 seeks to appropriate $150,000 from the general fund to the
Board of Regents of Eastern New Mexico University for expenditure in FY06 to establish an ac-
credited dental hygienist educational program at the Roswell branch to prepare graduates to be-
come licensed dental hygienists.
Relates to HB107 (Interactive Dental Distance Education Program) and SB131 (Dental Hygien-
ist Distance Learning Program) in that both HB107 and SB131 seek to appropriate $45,000 from
the general fund to the Department of Health to contract with a statewide association of commu-
nity colleges to develop and implement an interactive distance education program to teach dental
hygiene and dental assisting statewide.
SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
DOH suggests that 2000 Oral Health Survey conducted by the DOH found that 65 percent of the
2,000 children surveyed had experienced tooth decay; and 37 percent of the sample had un-
treated tooth decay. Approximately 25 percent of New Mexico adults, age 65 years and older,
have lost all their natural teeth. The national target recommended by Healthy People 2010 is to
have no more than 20 percent of adults of this age group with loss of all natural teeth. DOH fur-
ther indicates that:
•
The federal government has designated all or part of 26 New Mexico counties as
dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. Dental services are inadequate due to a
shortage of needed health professionals -- especially in rural and remote areas of
the state.
•
New Mexico has several programs designed to address the need for oral health pro-
fessionals. Dental hygiene programs are in two locations – University of New
Mexico in Albuquerque, and the San Juan Community College in Farmington.
Public dental assistant programs are in several locations – Santa Fe Community
College, Eastern New Mexico University Branch College in Roswell, University of
New Mexico Branch in Gallup, and Dona Ana Branch Community College in Dona
Ana. There are also two small private dental assisting programs in Albuquerque.
New Mexico has no dental school.
•
The proposed two-year dental hygiene program at Dona Ana Branch Community
College anticipates graduating ten to twelve dental hygienists per year. A positive
economic impact will also be derived through increased employment opportunities.
pg_0004
House Bill 504 -- Page 4
HPC offers the following more general observations as to the state of dental hygiene in New
Mexico:
•
The number of dental hygienists per 100,000 population in New Mexico is below
the national average. National Ratio 52:1, New Mexico 39:1-2003. (New Mexico
Oral Health Surveillance System)
•
Oral Health Professional shortage areas (Dental HPSAs): New Mexico counties
designated 30 of 33. International border designated 6 New Mexico counties.
•
The growth rate in the number of professional hygiene licensed issued in New
Mexico does not keep pace with the growth in total population.
•
The supply rate for the number of professional hygiene licenses issued in New
Mexico will face a severe impact during the next five years when the retirement
rate will exceed supply rate.
•
Historically New Mexico has had one dental hygiene education program that has
not grown since 1963 (UNM). Twenty-four students graduate per year.
•
In 2001, a second dental hygiene program began at San Juan Community College
in Farmington with the capacity of graduating 12 students per year. Two hundred
applicants applied for the 2001-2002 academic year.
•
Additional dental education programs are needed to improve dental care access in
New Mexico.
•
New Mexico Statute requires that a licensed dental hygienist practice under the in-
direct supervision of a licensed dentist, therefore the increase in licensed dental hy-
gienists needs to grow proportionally with that of dentists. With out a dental school
in New Mexico the shortage of dentists will prevail.
•
Dentist, dental hygienist and dental personnel recruitment issues must be examined
to meet the access needs of New Mexico.
BFW/lg