SENATE MEMORIAL 73

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

INTRODUCED BY

Clemente Sanchez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE STATE'S IMMUNIZATION SYSTEM AND TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO MINIMIZE THE BURDEN ON PROVIDERS AND TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND ACCESS TO IMMUNIZATIONS FOR NEW MEXICANS IN THE FACE OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL LAW.

     WHEREAS, according to the federal centers for disease control and prevention, vaccines are one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the twentieth century; and

     WHEREAS, according to the association of state and territorial health officials, every one dollar ($1.00) spent on immunizations saves sixteen dollars ($16.00) in avoided costs; and

     WHEREAS, the American academy of pediatrics, the American academy of family physicians and the federal centers for disease control and prevention all strongly support protecting children with recommended vaccinations; and

     WHEREAS, access and affordability of vaccinations is in the best interest of the general public; and

     WHEREAS, the "herd immunity" provided by widespread immunization provides protection for an entire community as reflected in the limited occurrence of measles, with only sixty-three cases identified in the United States in 2010 for what was once one of the most infectious diseases; and

     WHEREAS, the federal Section 317 immunization grant program provides funds for the purchase and delivery of vaccines for eligible populations and supports national, state and local immunization programs; and

     WHEREAS, the federal Section 317 immunization grant program has, for many years, strengthened immunization systems and filled gaps in immunization coverage for vulnerable populations not covered by private insurance or by the federal vaccines for children program; and

     WHEREAS, over time, priorities and policies have evolved to respond to changes in clinical recommendations and in the health care landscape; and

     WHEREAS, states had considerable discretion in how to use federal Section 317 immunization grant program funding before October 12, 2012, when the federal centers for disease control and prevention changed its policy so that Section 317 vaccines could not be used, with few exceptions, to immunize fully insured persons; and

     WHEREAS, according to the federal centers for disease control and prevention, this new policy "focuses on ensuring that insured individuals receive their vaccinations through their insurance provider network, and are not subsidized through federal funding"; and

     WHEREAS, recent changes in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, with the resulting expansion in public and private health insurance coverage, are expected to increase the number of New Mexicans who have health insurance coverage; and

     WHEREAS, recent changes in the rules of the federal centers for disease control and prevention regarding immunizations will require providers to keep different inventory and accounting systems for vaccine stock, based on the insurance status of patients; and

     WHEREAS, in order to ease the administrative and financial burden on the state's health care providers and to maintain and expand access to vaccines for New Mexico children, the state needs to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the state's current immunization system;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to conduct a study of the state's current immunization system and develop a comprehensive strategy to minimize the burden on immunization providers and to maintain and expand access to immunizations for all New Mexicans in accordance with new federal laws and regulations regarding federally funded immunizations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health be requested to consider state grants or other state funding to supplement federally funded immunization programs and efforts in the course of its study; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health present its findings to the interim legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee on or before August 1, 2014; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to Governor Susana Martinez and to the secretary of health.

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