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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Smith

DATE TYPED 3/11/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Medicaid Services for Brain Injuries

SB 220

ANALYST Ford

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$2,000.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

$5,100.0

Recurring

Federal Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Duplicates HB318

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Aging and Long Term Services Department (A&LTSD)

Department of Health (DOH)

Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC)

Human Services Department (HSD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 220 appropriates $2 million from the general fund to A&LTSD, in cooperation with

the HSD, for the purpose of providing Medicaid waiver services to persons with brain injuries

with emphasis on long-term disability services provided through home- and community-based

programs.

Senate Bill 220 contains an emergency clause.

Senate Bill 220 -- Page 2

Significant Issues

Senate Bill 220 would appropriates $2 million from the general fund to provide services to those

suffering the consequences of traumatic brain injury. According to the Department of Finance

and Administration (DFA), the current federal match is 71.94%. Thus the $2 million state ap-

propriation would be matched by $5.1 million in federal funding.

New Mexico currently provides long-term services under four Medicaid waivers: developmental

disability, disabled and elderly, AIDS, and medically fragile. However, many individuals who

require services because of a traumatic brain injury to do qualify for services under these waiv-

ers. In addition, those who do qualify may face a long waiting list.

The state also provides funding through the traumatic brain injury program, but funding is lim-

ited and provided only for crisis or short-term services.

DOH, HSD, and A&LTSD are collaborating on a self-directed Medicaid waiver application

called Mi Via for participants in the existing New Mexico waivers. The departments indicate

that this waiver would include services for individuals with brain injury as an additional popula-

tion, however DDPC notes that, without additional funding, services would not be available.

There is apparent confusion about whether or not SB 220 would interfere or delay the efforts of

the Mi Via initiative. HSD writes that the bill would “duplicate and possibly delay efforts of the

Mi Via initiative.” However, A&LTSD writes that the bill is “…not inconsistent with the Mi

Via self-directed wavier….”

Both departments agree that an amendment should be made addressing the issue of the Mi Via

initiative.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $2 million contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert

to the general fund. According to the DFA, the $2 million state appropriation will draw down

approximately $5.1 million in federal funds.

DDPC and DVR both write that the appropriation to A&LTSD should be non-reverting as it will

take some time to establish new services and funding will continue to be needed beyond FY 06

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

A&LTSD would incur administrative costs to implement the program. HSD notes that these ef-

forts may be duplicative of administrative efforts associated with the Mi Via initiative.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

A&LTSD and HSD both recommend the following amendment language:

On page 1, line 21 should be amended to read:

Senate Bill 220 -- Page 3

shall provide Medicaid services to persons with brain injuries, with an emphasis on

home and community-based services, using the principles of self-determination and self-

direction of services when appropriate. Subject to the limitations of federal requirements

for aggregate cost effectiveness, budgets for individual waiver services shall be flexible,

based on the eligible individual’s functional limitations, and adequate to meet the per-

son’s needs for long-term supports and services.

In addition, A&LTSD notes that the bill does specify that services shall be waiver services.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries often require long term care or assistance,

which, for many, is not currently available from the state. According to DDPC, many of these

individuals are cared for by their families without the benefit of a coordinated and comprehen-

sive support system. This can be a financial and emotional burden to the families. Individuals

without that family support may move into nursing facilities, become homeless or encounter

problems with the law.

DDPC also indicates that 25 other states have Medicaid waivers specific to brain injury and the

national average cost for services provided is $40 thousand per person per year. Using that fig-

ure, DDPC estimates that the state appropriation of $2 million combined with the federal match

would be sufficient to provide services to 200-250 people per year.

A&LTSD estimates that approximately 36,000 New Mexicans are living with the consequences

of traumatic brain injuries, based on estimations by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

A&LTSD also notes that CDC data shows that approximately 1,745 New Mexicans were hospi-

talized with traumatic brain injury in 2001.

Based on the estimate that 36,000 New Mexicans are living with traumatic brain injury, the $2

million appropriation to serve only 200-250 clients seems to be far short of what is required.

Thus, clarification is needed as to whether there will be a cap on services based on the appropria-

tion level or if this may be construed as an open-ended entitlement.

In addition, the definition of what qualifies as “traumatic brain injury” should be clarified.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Will services be capped based on the appropriation or does this bill create an open-ended enti-

tlement.

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