SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 67

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Steve Komadina

A JOINT MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS AND REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES BE PROVIDED THROUGH STATE AGENCIES.

     WHEREAS, the government has a moral responsibility to care for its most vulnerable citizens; and

     WHEREAS, children and adults with disabilities and children with, or at the risk of, developmental delays are some of the most vulnerable residents in our state; and

     WHEREAS, currently seven thousand nine hundred twenty-five children with, or at risk of, developmental delays receive early intervention services from the family, infant, toddler program administered by the department of health; and

     WHEREAS, the need for services through the family, infant, toddler program has increased thirteen percent annually and waiting lists cannot be formed since the program is an entitlement program that requires immediate access to service for all eligible infants and families; and

     WHEREAS, approximately three thousand five hundred children and adults currently receive services from the home and community-based developmental disabilities medicaid waiver program administered by the department of health, and approximately three thousand five hundred are on the waiting list for services; and

     WHEREAS, two hundred fifty-nine persons receive services from the intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded program administered by the human services department; and

     WHEREAS, one thousand nine hundred five persons receive services from the home and community-based disabled and elderly medicaid waiver program administered by the aging and long-term services department and seven thousand one hundred forty-nine persons are on the waiting list for services; and

     WHEREAS, approximately three to four hundred persons receive services from the traumatic brain injury services administered by the aging and long-term services department and because of eligibility documentation requirements there is a two- to three-month waiting time for those persons; and

     WHEREAS, eight thousand seven hundred eighty-three persons receive services from the personal care option program administered by the aging and long-term services department; and

     WHEREAS, the need for services for persons with disabilities and children with, or at risk of, developmental delays is far greater than the financial resources currently available, resulting in waiting times for some services; and

     WHEREAS, in order to meet the existing and increasing need for services, dedicated, trained and caring providers must be available in sufficient numbers;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that additional financial resources be provided to the department of health, the aging and long-term services department and the human services department to eliminate all waiting lists for these and other services so that New Mexico's most vulnerable residents can receive the care they need; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that additional financial resources be provided to the department of health, the aging and long-term services department and the human services department to accommodate the increasing cost of providing care and the additional resources needed to provide the care; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of health, the secretary of aging and long-term services and the secretary of human services.