SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 12

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

INTRODUCED BY

Phil A. Griego

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF STATE STATUTES TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN STATUTE.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico continues to experience challenges in the improvement of health outcomes and addressing health disparities and socioeconomic conditions influencing health status and economic development; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico continues to experience critical shortages of providers in primary, oral and behavioral health care, particularly in rural and inner-city areas; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is a predominantly rural state with a high percentage of the rural population lacking access to health care services, experiencing food insecurity and gaps in transportation and lacking access to behavioral and oral health services; and

     WHEREAS, there is substantial evidence that comprehensive coordination of care for individuals with chronic diseases and the provision of information regarding preventive care can improve individual health status, create a healthier population, reduce the costs of health care and increase appropriate access to health care; and

     WHEREAS, community health workers, promotoras and community health representatives, hereinafter collectively referred to as community health workers, have demonstrated success in increasing access to care in underserved communities; providing culturally appropriate prevention and disease management education; providing translating and interpreting services for health care encounters; improving health through care coordination and by increasing individual health literacy and advocacy; organizing to enable community health improvement; and increasing efficiencies with accompanying improvement in health outcomes; and

     WHEREAS, because people with disabilities are a particularly vulnerable population and New Mexico has a twenty-two percent incidence of disability, the familiarity and trusting relationships with the communities and families served by community health workers make these workers valuable partners in reducing the added risks of isolation and inability to access appropriate care by disabled residents in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, community health workers can aid in ensuring physical, communication and information access to people with disabilities of all ages and can help increase awareness among individuals, families and members about the benefits of utilizing assistive technology for health and long-term service delivery in maintaining a healthy life; and

     WHEREAS, community health workers also support compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and

     WHEREAS, the United States department of labor has recognized and defined community health workers as health professionals under occupational definitions; and

     WHEREAS, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act identifies and sets out roles for community health workers as critical providers of health education, care management, enrollment assistance and access to care for populations eligible for public and private programs, prevention of duplicative care, increased quality of care, increased services to individuals and families facing chronic, long-term conditions and increased services to families that would benefit from services that support maternal and child health; and

     WHEREAS, efforts are under way to train community health workers for employment opportunities in providing health and social services in rural, tribal and urban areas; but, thus far, financing for those trained has not been developed nor is the training standardized or coordinated; and

     WHEREAS, at least seventeen states are developing or implementing certification processes and financing options for community health workers; and

     WHEREAS, the secretary of health created, pursuant to Senate Joint Memorial 76 from the 2003 regular legislative session, an office of community health workers within the public health division of the department of health by executive appointment, but the office does not reside in public health statutes and, therefore, has no permanent authorization; and

     WHEREAS, the secretary of health has appointed an advisory committee that has met for the past two years; and

     WHEREAS, the advisory committee has studied, evaluated and observed the benefits of community health workers in a variety of health care settings within communities, clinics, hospitals and public health offices in conjunction with the office of community health workers; and

     WHEREAS, the advisory committee has determined that the department of health is the agency to coordinate training and certification of community health workers and their trainers and training programs and to develop and maintain a registry of certified community health workers;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to conduct a review and analysis of state statutes for the purpose of recommending to the fiftieth legislature, second session, legislation that will create in statute an office of community health workers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of community health workers be requested to develop for implementation by July 1, 2012 a statewide program for the certification of community health workers in areas of employment and service that require such certification; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the statewide program address training for community health workers that will be available within the communities to be served and, to the extent possible, to all those pursuing a career in community health and ensure that such training include community health care competencies and certification as required for the use of informatics and related technology, medical terminology and electronic medical records and systems and other skills to maximize the talents and employability of the community health workers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the certification program accommodate the experiences, competencies and training of the existing community health workers in place as of July 1, 2012; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that for the purposes of oversight and continuous improvement, the department of health be requested to maintain an advisory committee that shall be representative of community health workers and community health representative professions; higher educational institutions, community colleges, vocational schools and branches of higher education; state agencies and other organizations charged with the delivery, administration or financing of health and social services; community provider organizations, including the professional associations; and other potential employers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the advisory group continually review best practices using community health workers that result in increased access and efficiencies; reduced costs; and improved health outcomes, including a lower incidence of disabilities and death; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health be requested to develop a recommended budget and provide organizational details and program activities of the proposed office; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health be requested to submit the budget recommendations and program components to the legislature for consideration in the fiftieth legislature, second session; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health.

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