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A MEMORIAL

URGING CONTINUED AND MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION

OF CONCERNS RAISED REGARDING THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF

THE COORDINATED LONG-TERM SERVICES PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, the human services department and the aging and

long-term services department have plans to implement a new

program of managed care for individuals receiving long-term

services, known as the coordinated long-term services

program, beginning on July 1, 2008; and

WHEREAS, persons receiving services provided in the

disabled and elderly waiver, the personal care option or

nursing facilities would be required to receive all medical

and long-term medicaid services through the coordinated

long-term services program; and

WHEREAS, concerns have been expressed by legislators,

consumers, providers, advocates and other stakeholders about

whether the coordinated long-term services program is

designed and will be implemented in such a way as to achieve

its stated goals, including:

A. whether the number of home- and community-based

waiver slots requested for coordinated long-term services

will be adequate to increase significantly the number of

people receiving community-based long-term services;

B. whether existing eligibility rules will

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continue to limit access to community services in the

program;

C. how money follows the person will be

implemented in the program;

D. whether the capitated rates paid to the

program's managed care organizations will be adequate to

allow them to provide the services needed by individual

enrollees;

E. whether the program's rate structure will

provide appropriate incentives to serve individuals in the

community; and

F. whether implementation of the program will

succeed in reducing the waiting list and waiting times for

community-based waiver services; and

WHEREAS, the state should take significant steps to

ensure that managed care organizations provide prompt and

appropriate services to individuals who need long-term

services; and

WHEREAS, there has been limited involvement by the

legislature in development of the program; and

WHEREAS, advocates for seniors and persons with

disabilities have expressed serious and legitimate concerns

over whether the program, as designed, will increase access

to long-term services in the community rather than in

institutions;

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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the human services department and

the aging and long-term services department address the

concerns identified in this memorial prior to implementation

of coordinated long-term services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the two departments consult

in a regular and meaningful way with representatives of

providers and consumers on the design of the coordinated

long-term services program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the departments report

regularly to the appropriate interim legislative committee

concerned with health and human services and to the

legislative finance committee on progress in addressing the

issues set forth in this memorial; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the departments also

regularly report on the numbers of clients in home- and

community-based waiver services, persons receiving personal

care option services, the numbers of persons in nursing homes

and describe any other services provided through the

coordinated long-term services program and the number of

people receiving those services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the chairs of the interim legislative finance

and health and human services committees and to the

secretaries of human services and aging and long-term

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services.