SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 10

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

INTRODUCED BY

Sue Wilson Beffort

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY AND COST OF EXPANDING THE TIME OF OPERATION OF STUDENT HEALTH CLINICS AT PUBLIC POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND OF COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THOSE CLINICS AND FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS.

     WHEREAS, most students at public post-secondary educational institutions receive health care at student health clinics established by those institutions and do not have the resources to seek alternative care; and

     WHEREAS, public post-secondary educational institution student health clinics may be open for only limited hours during the day and may not be open year-round; and

     WHEREAS, at times when student health clinics are not open, students may not seek alternative care, leading to an injury or illness becoming more difficult and costly to treat, or they may seek care at emergency rooms, where the care is expensive and may result in public reimbursement for the care; and

     WHEREAS, federally qualified health centers, as recognized by the health resources and services administration of the United States department of health and human services, are located in many parts of New Mexico where public post-secondary educational institutions are also located; and

     WHEREAS, these federally recognized health centers provide comprehensive health care services and charge fees adjusted to a patient's ability to pay;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the higher education department be requested to study the feasibility and cost of keeping student health clinics at public post-secondary educational institutions open year-round and expanding their hours of operation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the higher education department be requested to also study the feasibility and cost of cooperative arrangements between student health clinics and federally qualified health centers that would encourage students to seek services at those health centers when student health clinics are closed; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the higher education department report its findings to the legislative education study committee and the interim legislative health and human services committee no later than November 1, 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chairs of the legislative education study committee and the interim legislative health and human services committee and to the secretary of higher education.

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