HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 12

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Danice Picraux

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, SCHOOL OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER TO COLLABORATE WITH NEW MEXICO MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS TO REVIEW PUBLIC HEALTH OBJECTIVES AND NEEDS FOR NEW MEXICO AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS.

     WHEREAS, public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private communities and individuals; and

     WHEREAS, a key objective of public health efforts is the prevention of disease and the promotion of healthy behaviors among individuals in society; and

     WHEREAS, in order to pursue these objectives, it is necessary to understand the relationships among health status, individual behavior, health services, social factors and public policies; and

     WHEREAS, in support of improved health for the nation, the federal government has for three decades developed public health goals known as "healthy people" goals; and

     WHEREAS, healthy people provides science-based, ten-year national objectives and benchmarks for improving the health of all Americans that are monitored to measure progress over time; and

     WHEREAS, the latest iteration of these goals, healthy people, 2020, is widely available as a template for adoption by state agencies, universities and the private sector; and

     WHEREAS, pursuit of public health goals and objectives requires collaboration across sectors of the health care system and attention to measurements of results; and

     WHEREAS, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains funding and provisions in support of states collaborating to pursue public health goals and objectives and to promote awareness of the benefits of healthy behaviors and the importance of prevention; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has not engaged in a systematic, collaborative approach to promote public health goals and objectives; and

     WHEREAS, in this era of limited resources and constrained budgets, the ability of the department of health and the university of New Mexico to adequately fund public health efforts has been severely limited; and

     WHEREAS, limiting funding for public health initiatives may save money in the short run, but will have long-term, negative impacts as the health of the population of New Mexico suffers; and

     WHEREAS, creativity, innovation and commitment to improving the health of New Mexico residents over time will be needed by both public and private sector partners; and

     WHEREAS, the department of health, the university of New Mexico and New Mexico managed care organizations each have distinctly different but vital roles to play in the commitment to ensuring a healthy New Mexico for tomorrow;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health and the university of New Mexico school of medicine, school of nursing and health sciences center be requested to collaborate with New Mexico managed care organizations to review public health objectives and needs for New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these entities develop recommendations that will align New Mexico with national goals found in healthy people, 2020; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that every opportunity be pursued to obtain funding for public health initiatives through the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the findings and recommendations that arise from this collaboration be reported to the interim legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee by October 1, 2011; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health, the president of the university of New Mexico health sciences center, the deans of the university of New Mexico schools of medicine and nursing and the executive directors of all managed care organizations doing business in New Mexico.

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