SENATE MEMORIAL 68

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

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CHILDREN'S MEDICAL SERVICES PROGRAM AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT AND DISABILITY TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO CONDUCT A STUDY AND REPORT ON WAYS TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM OF HEALTH CARE TRANSITION FOR NEW MEXICO CHILDREN AND YOUTHS WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS.

     WHEREAS, a 2010 national survey of children with special health care needs found that New Mexico had seventy thousand seven hundred twenty-four children and youths with special health care needs; and

     WHEREAS, according to the national survey, the prevalence of children and youths with special health care needs between the ages of twelve and seventeen in New Mexico was seventeen and nine-tenths percent, compared to the national average of sixteen and eight-tenths percent; and

     WHEREAS, children and youths with special health care needs between the ages of twelve and nineteen years of age are aging out of the pediatric medical environment and need to make a transition to adult health care providers; and

     WHEREAS, there are few systems or resources available to aid pediatric and adult health care providers and children and youths with special health care needs and their families in the process of transition from pediatric to adult health care; and

     WHEREAS, numerous research studies have shown that policies, systems and services tend to lack coordination and are fragmented, and children and youths with disabilities and their families lack the information they need to successfully navigate the transition from pediatric to adult health care; and

     WHEREAS, numerous research studies have shown that health care fragmentation and the lack of effective transition and transfer of health care services have a negative impact on the health of patients throughout their life spans; and

     WHEREAS, optimal health care is achieved when each person, at every age, receives medically and developmentally appropriate care;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health's children's medical services program and the university of New Mexico center for development and disability be requested to convene a task force on health care transition for New Mexico children and youths with special health care needs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of, among others, one or more young adults who are experiencing or who have experienced the transition process from pediatric to adult health care; and representatives of the university of New Mexico hospital, Presbyterian hospital, the medical assistance division of the human services department, parents reaching out, the New Mexico medical society, the office of superintendent of insurance, healthinsight New Mexico, the governor's commission on disability and special Olympics New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force also include a family and community medicine physician, a pediatric physician and a psychiatrist specializing in services to children and youths with special health care needs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force also include representatives of the four medicaid managed care organizations providing services through the centennial care program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to identify and study existing barriers to effective health care transition and transfer services for New Mexico children and youths with special health care needs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to identify and study strategies to address the barriers to effective health care transition and transfer services, including evidence-based strategies that have been successfully used in other states; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to make formal recommendations for changes to existing policies, programs and regulatory provisions or recommendations on new policies, programs or regulatory provisions that would:

          A. address barriers to effective health care transition for children and youths with special health care needs;

          B. result in more effective services for children and youths with special health care needs as they make the transition from pediatric to adult health care services;

          C. improve the efficiency of the health care transition process;

          D. ease the burden of the health care transition process both on patients and their families; and

          E. maximize outcomes, including lifelong functioning and well-being, for children and youths with special health care needs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force provide a report of its review and recommendations to the secretary of health, the secretary of human services, the legislative health and human services committee, the disabilities concerns subcommittee of the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee by October 1, 2015; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health, the secretary of human services, the chancellor for health sciences of the university of New Mexico, the director of the center for development and disability at the university of New Mexico, the president of the university of New Mexico hospital, the president of Presbyterian hospital, the executive director of parents reaching out, the executive director of the New Mexico medical society, the superintendent of insurance, the executive director of healthinsight New Mexico, the director of the governor's commission on disability and the executive director of special Olympics New Mexico.

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