SENATE BILL 191

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Steven P. Neville

AN ACT

RELATING TO MEDICAID; REQUIRING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO MAKE QUARTERLY PAYMENTS FROM THE SAFETY NET CARE POOL FUND TO A COUNTY'S QUALIFYING HOSPITAL OR HOSPITALS THAT EQUAL OR EXCEED THE COUNTY'S QUARTERLY CONTRIBUTION TO THE SAFETY NET CARE POOL FUND; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 27-5-6.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, Chapter 321, Section 18, as amended) is amended to read:

     "27-5-6.1. SAFETY NET CARE POOL FUND CREATED.--

          A. The "safety net care pool fund" is created in the state treasury. The safety net care pool fund, which shall be administered by the department, shall consist of public funds provided through intergovernmental transfers from counties or other public entities and transferred from counties pursuant to Section [16 of this 2014 act] 27-5-6.2 NMSA 1978. Money in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer as other state funds are invested. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert.

          B. Money in the safety net care pool fund is appropriated to the department to make payments to qualifying hospitals. No safety net care pool fund payments or money in the safety net care pool fund shall be used to supplant any general fund support for the state medicaid program.

          C. The department shall make quarterly payments from the safety net care pool fund to a county's qualifying hospital or hospitals that equal or exceed the county's contribution to the safety net care pool fund pursuant to Section 27-5-6.2 NMSA 1978 for the corresponding quarters."

     SECTION 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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