SENATE BILL 448

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REQUEST COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR CERTAIN DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS.

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

     Section 1. A new section of Chapter 27, Article 2 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DIRECT SERVICES COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT.--In the department of health's annual budget requests to the state budget division of the department of finance and administration and to the legislative finance committee, the department of health shall request an annual cost-of-living increase, based on the centers for medicare and medicaid services' intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded market basket index inflation factor, for all persons who have entered into provider contracts or provider agreements with the department of health to provide direct care services through the family infant toddler program, the developmental disabilities medicaid waiver program and the state general fund program administered by the developmental disabilities supports division of the department of health. The cost-of-living adjustment shall be used to improve staff recruitment and retention and to meet increased programmatic and operational costs of quality services."

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