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

SPONSOR Beffort

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/22/07

HB

SHORT TITLE Primary Health Care Appropriations

SB 91

ANALYST Geisler

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$3,000.0

Recurring

General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY07

FY08

FY09 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

$61.4

$61.4

$122.8 Recurring General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates: House Bill 78

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Health (DOH)

New Mexico Primary Care Association (NMPCA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill:

Senate Bill 91, for the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, would appropriate $3

million from the general fund to the Department of Health (DOH) in FY 2008 pursuant to the

Rural Primary Health Care Act (RPHCA) to support operating costs associated with providing

uncompensated care to low income, rural and underserved New Mexicans and to maintain the

state’s primary care safety net.

Senate Bill 91 – Page

2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The proposed appropriation represents a $3 million increase to the FY07 general fund base

budget of $10.3 million. The executive budget recommendation also recommends an appropria-

tion of $3 million for this program. DOH notes that an additional FTE would be required at an

estimated cost of $61,400 plus start-up costs (space, computer, licenses, etc.) to support the pro-

gram.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Despite ongoing progress in addressing health care needs, New Mexicans continue to lack access

to medical and dental health care services. The RPHCA program, administered by DOH, pro-

vides financial support to 82 clinics statewide through contracts with nonprofit organizations and

governmental entities. In FY 06, these clinics reported over 780,000 primary care patient visits.

The NM Primary Care Association provides that due to increased demand from the unin-

sured and rising costs, the primary care clinics lost $2.3 million in 2004 and $2.8 million in

2005, despite implementing austerity measures. Figures for 2006 are not final, but losses are

projected to be worse. A $3 million injection of operating capital is necessary now, accord-

ing to the association, if primary care clinics are to maintain the increased capacity they have

developed to serve New Mexico’s rural, underserved, and uninsured populations.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Senate Bill 91 would have administrative impact upon DOH. At nearly one-third of the current

appropriation, the appropriation in SB91 would require additional procurement, contracting and

monitoring activities of the RPHCA Program. Considering current staffing levels, one additional

FTE (salary and benefits) would be required.

DUPLICATION

Senate Bill 91 is duplicated by House Bill 78. In addition, the executive budget recommendation

for DOH includes $3 million in new funding for this program.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

More information on primary care clinics from the NM Primary Care Association:

•

135 Primary Care medical, dental, and school-based health clinics serve 292,000 New Mexi-

cans in 31 counties around the state. They are cost-effective, high quality, culturally compe-

tent providers of comprehensive health care and serve 133,000 uninsured patients (one in

three of New Mexico’s uninsured).

•

In 2005 Primary care clinics spent over $140 million providing care. With State, federal, and

local support, Primary Care Clinics provided over $36 million of subsidized care to low-

income, uninsured New Mexicans. Patients received these discounts “up front". They were

not first billed for this uncompensated care or turned over to collections. This policy encour-

ages patients to access to the appropriate level of care, before more serious and expensive

conditions arise.

Senate Bill 91 – Page

3

•

No group of providers can continue to provide “uncompensated care" and maintain its capac-

ity, infrastructure, and financial viability for any extended length of time. The primary care

clinics have reached that point. Many are facing the dilemma of not filling vacancies, cutting

back hours and closing sites, despite increasing demand for services. When primary care ser-

vices to the uninsured are cut back, far more costly bills come due at emergency rooms and

hospitals. The state is then asked to finance this increase in uncompensated care.

•

The Governor’s proposal to insure more New Mexicans (if enacted), will help many of our

patients and help stabilize primary care clinics financially. However, the impact will not

likely be felt for over a year and even these proposals will still leave over 300,000 uninsured

and needing services. The Governor has recognized this fact and included the $3 million dol-

lar request in his Executive budget.

•

New Mexico has one of the better rural and low-income primary care safety nets in the na-

tion. Sustaining this critical infrastructure should be a priority for all New Mexicans.

GG/mt