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

SPONSOR Sandoval

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/29/08

HJM 27

SHORT TITLE Legislative Behavioral Health Caucus

SB

ANALYST Cox

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 27 proposes the creation of the New Mexico Behavioral Health Caucus

and members of both houses and all political parties be encouraged to join or become familiar

with the work of the Legislative Behavioral Health Caucus. Members of the Caucus would learn

about the priority of mental health and wellness, and find solutions that bridge unmet needs,

improve the quality and outcomes of care.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Some travel, per-diem and compilation expenses may need to be funded.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

HPC notes:

This joint memorial asserts that the Behavioral Health Caucus would help ensure that mental

health services are funded at appropriate levels. The Caucus would contribute to the knowledge

of legislative committees and address issues that could affect access to mental health services.

The Behavioral Health Caucus is encouraged to work with behavioral health advocacy groups to

educate the Legislature and the public.

House Joint Memorial 27 – Page

2

According to New Mexico Health Policy Commission Quick Facts 2008 reports an estimated

26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable behavioral health

disorder in a given year. Even though behavioral health disorders are widespread in the

population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion who suffer

(about six percent) from a serious mental illness. In addition, behavioral health disorders are the

leading cause of disability in the United States for ages 15-44. Many people suffer from more

than one behavioral health disorder at a given time. Nearly half (45 percent) of those with any

behavioral health disorder meet criteria for two or more disorders, with severity strongly related

to co-morbidity.

•

Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the United States for ages

15-44.

•

Major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, or about

6.7% of the American population age 18 and older in a given year.

•

Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million American adults, or about 2.6 percent

of the United States population age 18 and older in a given year.

•

More than 90 percent of people who commit suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder,

most commonly a depressive disorder or a substance abuse disorder.

•

Approximately 2.4 million American adults or about 1.1 percent of the population age 18

and older in a given year have schizophrenia.

•

Approximately 40 million American adults ages 18 and older, or about 18.1 percent of

people in this age group in a given year, have an anxiety disorder.

•

Approximately 7.7 million American adults age 18 and older, or about 3.5 percent of

people in this age group in a given year, have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

•

More than 90 percent of people who commit suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder,

most commonly a depressive disorder or a substance abuse disorder.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

HJM27 is a duplication of SJM31, Legislative Behavioral Health Caucus.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

It is not stated in the memorial how the caucus is organized (who chairs the caucus, how

frequently the caucus meets, or its relationship with the Behavioral Health Collaborative). Hence

the following questions should be asked:

What will be the size of this caucus.

When will the caucus meet.

Where will the caucus meet.

What are the expenses of this meeting. (travel, per-diem, compilation, etc)

PRC/mt