SENATE BILL 291

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; CREATING A BIRTHING WORKFORCE RETENTION FUND FOR ASSISTANCE WITH MALPRACTICE PREMIUMS FOR CERTIFIED NURSE-MIDWIVES AND PHYSICIANS WHO PROVIDE BIRTHING SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME NEW MEXICANS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. BIRTHING WORKFORCE RETENTION FUND CREATED.--

          A. The "birthing workforce retention fund" is created in the state treasury. The purpose of the fund is to provide malpractice insurance premium assistance for certified nurse-midwives or physicians whose insurance premium costs jeopardize their ability to continue their obstetrics practices in New Mexico. The fund shall consist of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations to the fund. The fund shall be administered by the department of health.

          B. The department of health shall develop procedures and rules for the application for and award of money from the birthing workforce retention fund, including criteria upon which to evaluate the need of the applicant and the merits of the application. The rules shall require that the applicant be a certified nurse-midwife licensed in New Mexico or a physician

licensed in New Mexico and that the applicant demonstrate need by showing that medicaid patients or indigent patients constitute at least one-half of the obstetric practice of the applicant and that malpractice insurance premiums have escalated and threaten the financial stability of the practice. The certified nurse-midwife or physician shall have a malpractice liability insurance policy in force. An award shall not be less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Priority for the awarding of money from the birthing workforce retention fund shall be in the following order:

                (1) to certified nurse-midwives; and

                (2) to family practice physicians and obstetricians having a low number of patients.

          C. Disbursements from the birthing workforce retention fund shall be made by warrant of the department of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of health or the secretary's authorized representative. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain to the credit of the fund.

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the birthing workforce retention fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2009 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the purposes of the fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

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