HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 20

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Kelly K. Fajardo

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY AN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OVERSIGHT AND REGULATION OF HOME CARE AGENCIES THAT ENSURES THE SAFETY OF HOME CARE RECIPIENTS AND CAREGIVERS.

     WHEREAS, an increasing number of New Mexicans require assistance with two or more activities of daily living, including dressing, bathing, toileting, personal hygiene, eating and transferring; and

     WHEREAS, there are a number of ways that disabled New Mexicans are provided home care services, including medicaid home- and community-based waiver programs, long-term care insurance and private pay; and

     WHEREAS, there are a number of different models of home care agencies that provide home care services; and

     WHEREAS, some home care agencies are licensed and regulated by the department of health, which means that their caregivers are provided training and oversight; and

     WHEREAS, some home care agencies are not licensed or regulated by the department of health, which means that the department of health does not provide oversight and that these agencies may or may not be required to provide adequate training; and

     WHEREAS, individuals and families who seek to hire home care services often have little means of ascertaining the level of skill or oversight that a home care caregiver has to offer; and

     WHEREAS, without adequate training or oversight, both home care recipients and caregivers may be at risk;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to convene a task force to identify an infrastructure for oversight and regulation of home care agencies that ensures the safety of home care recipients and caregivers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health be requested to invite representatives from the human services department, the aging and long-term services department, both state and national associations for home care agencies and long-term services recipients and advocates to participate in the task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to report its findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2014; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health and the legislative health and human services committee.

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