SENATE MEMORIAL 112

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

INTRODUCED BY

Clemente Sanchez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE INTERAGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PURCHASING COLLABORATIVE TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY AREAS IN THE STATE WITH THE GREATEST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SHORTAGES AND TO RECOMMEND POLICY AND FUNDING CHANGES TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGES.

     WHEREAS, in New Mexico, deaths caused by injury, violence and substance abuse exceed national rates; and

     WHEREAS, alcohol and drugs contribute to violent outcomes, and New Mexico has the second-highest drug overdose mortality rate in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, in 2010, there were ten thousand hospital discharges and visits to emergency rooms because of substance abuse and violence; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico ranks fifth among states with the highest suicide rates for all age groups; and

     WHEREAS, all or portions of thirty-one out of thirty-three counties in New Mexico are federally designated as health professional shortage areas or medically underserved areas; and

     WHEREAS, there are significantly more behavioral health care providers in urban areas than in rural areas;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative be requested to convene a task force to identify areas in the state with the greatest behavioral health shortages; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chief executive officer of the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative be requested to include on the task force representatives of behavioral health providers, including psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists, doctors of medicine, primary care association representatives and representatives of associations of professional counselors and therapists; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to review and identify causes of why rural and frontier areas of New Mexico are underserved by behavioral health providers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings and make recommendations for policy and funding changes that would encourage or provide incentives for behavioral health advisers to work in rural and frontier areas to the appropriate interim committee by November 1, 2015; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chief executive officer of the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative and the secretary of human services.

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