SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 1
50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011
INTRODUCED BY
Dede Feldman
A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE CONTINUATION OF THE HEALTH CARE REFORM WORKING GROUP CONVENED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
WHEREAS, the second session of the forty-ninth legislature passed Senate Joint Memorial 1, which requested that the superintendent of insurance of the public regulation commission convene a health care reform working group with membership drawn from the department of health, the human services department, the legislature, the insurance division of the public regulation commission, the New Mexico medical insurance pool and the New Mexico health insurance alliance; and
WHEREAS, the United States congress enacted federal health care reform in 2010, with the passage of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; and
WHEREAS, the health reform working group met during the months of April through October 2010, heard testimony and discussed many components of the federal health care reform legislation, including the state's options regarding the creation of a health insurance exchange and other state entities; how to prepare the state for increased enrollment in medicaid and other coverage options; recommended actions to implement insurance reforms in accordance with federal law and state concerns; strategies to obtain any federal money available for health care work force development, medicaid, community clinics, addressing health care disparities and health care information systems; implications for taxation and revenue; and how to ensure that New Mexicans are properly educated about their rights and responsibilities under the federal legislation; and
WHEREAS, the health care reform working group incorporated advisory groups made up of stakeholders, including the state's business interests, health care providers, insurers, state agencies, consumers, health care advocates and spokespersons for the state's Native American communities; and
WHEREAS, the health care reform working group provided ongoing testimony and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee during the 2010 interim; and
WHEREAS, health care reform is a process that will take place over the next several years, with many issues still to be considered as federal rules are issued and components of reform are implemented; and
WHEREAS, it is important that New Mexico continue to be in a position to make well-planned responses to the federal rules as they are issued and to any additional health care reforms that may be enacted by the United States congress; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico has received eighty-five million dollars ($85,000,000) in federal grants pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and needs to continue to monitor funding opportunities available through that act;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the executive director of the New Mexico medical insurance pool be requested to continue the health care reform working group with membership drawn from the department of health, the human services department, the legislative finance committee, the leadership of the legislative health and human services committee, the insurance division of the public regulation commission, the New Mexico medical insurance pool and the New Mexico health insurance alliance; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the leadership of each house of the legislature appoint the legislative members of the working group; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group meet at least quarterly through December 31, 2013; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group receive staff assistance from state agencies, the legislative finance committee and the legislative council service as appropriate to carry out the work of the health care reform working group; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group continue to receive and consider input and recommendations from public stakeholders and advisory groups and that the health care reform working group present to the governor and the legislature recommendations and proposed action steps for administrative, legislative, regulatory, operational and financial initiatives necessary to implement and supplement federal health care reform; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group continue to make recommendations regarding the implementation of a health insurance exchange and the creation of any entities that the health care reform working group considers necessary to supplement the federal reforms; whatever changes in state regulations are necessary to reconcile differences or conflicts between federal and New Mexico insurance regulations; state strategies to get access to federal money available for health care work force development, medicaid, community clinics, addressing health care disparities and health care information systems; any restructuring of medical assistance programs to maximize federal funds; and other health-related issues; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care reform working group present its recommendations to the governor, the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee by October 1 of each year until October 1, 2013; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor; the chairs of the New Mexico health policy commission, the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee; the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council; the superintendent of insurance; the secretary of human services; and the secretary of health.
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