HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 40

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

INTRODUCED BY

James Roger Madalena

A JOINT MEMORIAL

CALLING FOR THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF NATIVE AMERICAN PUEBLOS, TRIBES AND NATIONS TO ESTABLISH A MECHANISM TO ENGAGE IN PLANNING AND TO CAPITALIZE ON OPPORTUNITIES TO REFORM HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICAN INDIANS IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, the health care needs of American Indians are unique and include many unaddressed issues; and

     WHEREAS, according to the department of health, American Indians in New Mexico bear a disproportionate share of poor health status and disease; and

     WHEREAS, access to health care services varies greatly between urban Indians and Indians who reside on reservations; and

     WHEREAS, funding for Indian health services has historically been inadequate in New Mexico and in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, the passage of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act offer significant opportunities for tribes and Native American communities to contribute to the improved health and well-being of American Indians in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, in order to capitalize on the many opportunities and benefits, both within New Mexico and nationally, that are presented through the passage of these federal health reform and Indian health care improvement acts, tribal leadership and collaboration between and among tribal communities will be critical; and

     WHEREAS, collaborative effort will be needed to seek and secure newly available funding for Indian health care services; to create strategic partnerships to maximize the use of resources; to provide training and technical support to increase the capacity of tribal communities to build, strengthen or expand health systems; to research, analyze and develop American Indian health policy; and to position tribal governments to initiate large-scale Indian health initiatives; and

     WHEREAS, the health and well-being of American Indians in New Mexico will benefit from increased tribal participation in and expansion of tribal health programs; and

     WHEREAS, the support, funding and opportunities provided by the passage of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act can serve to expand and strengthen Indian sovereignty by allowing New Mexico Indian pueblos, tribes and nations to take ownership of the resources now available and to contribute in a meaningful way to the improved health of all American Indians in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Native American pueblos, tribes and nations be called upon to collaborate to establish a mechanism to engage in planning and to capitalize on opportunities to reform health care for American Indians in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this collaboration begin with the convening of a group of tribal leaders to start the process and identify the opportunities and tasks to initiate statewide American Indian health care reform planning; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the collaborative planning effort will involve the Albuquerque area Indian health board and the all Indian pueblo council health committee with formal partnerships with the Bernalillo county off-reservation Native American health commission, the Robert Wood Johnson foundation center for Native American health policy and others; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this initial group actively seek to include other Native American pueblos, tribes and nations as partners in this critical activity; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the support, funding and opportunities identified in this memorial be examined and pursued; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to all twenty-two tribal leaders, the Albuquerque area Indian health board, the all Indian pueblo council health committee, the Bernalillo county off-reservation Native American health commission and the Robert Wood Johnson foundation center for Native American health policy.

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