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

SPONSOR Papen

DATE TYPED 2/14/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Children’s Eye Exam Health Certificate

SB SJM 39

ANALYST Hanika-Ortiz

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

See Narrative Recurring

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 39 requests the DOH in cooperation with the PED, to:

•

Develop ways and means to implement a comprehensive eye examination health certifi-

cate for all children entering kindergarten or first grade.

•

Examine current requirements for eye examinations in public schools in New Mexico and

compare them to the standards of a comprehensive eye examination.

•

Consider the availability of optometrists and ophthalmologists in New Mexico to conduct

the comprehensive eye examinations.

•

Ascertain the potential cost for and benefits of a comprehensive eye examination for chil-

dren.

•

Present the findings to the Interim Legislative Health and Human Services Committee in

October 2005.

Significant Issues

SJM 39 notes a American Optometric Association report showing 15% of children suffer from

inadequate visual skills and up to 94% of children with reading problems have reduced visual

skills, which may interfere with learning. SJM 39 indicates that the current required vision

screening tests in New Mexico schools may be inadequate and parents may be under the wrong

assumption that these tests are complete eye examinations.

Senate Joint Memorial 39-- Page 2

In New Mexico, school districts perform vision screening on an annual basis. Recent statistics

demonstrate that 184,389 students were screened (well over 50% of public school students) and

11% were referred for a comprehensive eye exam during a single school year. DOH in associa-

tion with the New Mexico School Nurse Association conducts annual vision screening training

for both new school nurses and health assistants. Guidelines for vision screening are published

in the School Health Manual.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Stra-

bismus (AAPOS) endorse routine comprehensive eye exams if a child is at particular risk of vis-

ual abnormalities because of genetic risk, premature birth or other causes. The AAPOS policy

statement on vision screening in infants and children includes the following,” Routine compre-

hensive professional eye examination of the normal asymptomatic child has no proven medical

benefit.”

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED reports SJM 39 could impact staff time spent on technical assistance to schools concerning

student vision screening.

DOH reports SJM 39 would have no affect on their performance measures.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The PED and the DOH believe requiring comprehensive eye exams for school entry pose a prob-

lem of financing and access to services.

The well child exam includes hearing and vision screening and is done yearly, paid for by Medi-

caid, insurance or a private pay source. When a problem is identified, the primary physician for-

wards a referral to an ophthalmologist for a more comprehensive exam. Requiring a comprehen-

sive exam with no symptomology or family history of such may place an unnecessary financial

burden on health care systems, school districts and families.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The PED reports significant financial and administrative burden to participate in the study.

The New Mexico School Nurse’ Association does not support this study because of undue finan-

cial and administrative burden. School nurses already screen pre-K and kindergarten students

following standards set by the National School Nurse Association and training is offered for all

new school nurses and health assistants.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

SJM 39 does not specify if its recommendations would pertain only to public schools.

There is also the issue of confidentiality and storage of medical health information. An eye ex-

amination certificate would most likely qualify as such. A waiver would also need to be provided

for parents that do not wish a comprehensive eye exam for there child.

Senate Joint Memorial 39-- Page 3

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The United States Preventive Services Task Force states that routine visual acuity testing is not

recommended for asymptomatic school-aged children.

There is evidence that vision screening is not 100% effective; however, school children in New

Mexico are screened more than once during their schooling.

Eye care is a benefit under many insurance plans; however, examination of a child with no

symptoms may not be covered. Families without insurance coverage would have to pay the cost

or qualify for Medicaid.

Children’s Medical Services serves the statewide Children and Youth with Special Health Care

Needs (CYSHCN) population from birth to 21 years of age. Through its CYSHCN Program, The

Healthier Kids Fund Program, and the Family, Infant and Toddler Program, CMS provides

medical coverage for more than 6,300 children and youth statewide that includes services related

to eye care, and a number of other early intervention services.

Both the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the New Mexico School for the Visually

Impaired concur that a significant portion of learning and teaching are done visually, and that

there are basic vision skills needed by a child to help insure optimal learning outcomes. Although

several, national, medical professional groups do not support the need for more comprehensive

early childhood eye examinations of children who are asymptomatic, children of families with

histories of certain medical conditions may be more strongly predisposed to a variety of child-

hood visual impairments. The CYSHCN population served by CMS also represents a segment of

the State’s population that may require more intense screening and examination and tracking.

ALTERNATIVES

School vision testing is sometimes not completed until the middle of the school year. An alterna-

tive might be to have a “vision and hearing screening completed” certificate filled out by the

primary physician during the yearly well child exam submitted before school starts in the fall.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

Children will continue to receive vision screening at school and during yearly well child exams.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

What is the definition of a “health assistant”. What training, background and continuing educa-

tion requirements are needed.

How many schools use health assistants as opposed to nurses.

When a problem is discovered through school vision screening and referral is made, what kind of

follow-up is done to ensure parents received the message and have complied with the request.

AHO/lg