SENATE MEMORIAL 136

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

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO APPOINT A TASK FORCE TO PREPARE LEGISLATION IMPLEMENTING DENTAL THERAPY IN THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, there is a dental health care services shortage throughout most of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the federal health resources and services administration's February 2015 report stated that New Mexico will have a dentist shortage of one hundred ninety-five dentists and a surplus of two hundred ninety-one dental hygienists in 2025; and

     WHEREAS, people living in poverty and in rural communities are much less likely to receive good oral health care; and

     WHEREAS, poor oral health is linked with multiple health problems, including adverse pregnancy outcomes, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes; and

     WHEREAS, nontreatment of dental caries may be associated with inappropriate use of emergency room care, resulting in higher health care costs and incomplete care; and

     WHEREAS, the 2013 New Mexico health care workforce committee, made up of experts in health care, health care work force and state health policy, issued a report that concluded that New Mexico does not have enough dental providers to meet current or future demand; and

     WHEREAS, the states of Alaska, Maine and Minnesota, as well as the United Kingdom and New Zealand, have established the practice of dental therapy to address the need for skilled dental health care in urban, rural, frontier and tribal areas; and

     WHEREAS, the eight northern Indian pueblos council, inc., and the ten southern pueblo governor's council have both passed resolutions in support of legislation establishing the licensure and practice of dental therapists in the state; and

     WHEREAS, since 2013, the Navajo Nation has endorsed legislation establishing the licensure and practice of dental therapists in the state; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative health and human services committee has repeatedly endorsed legislation to license and authorize the practice of dental therapists since 2013; and

     WHEREAS, the 2013 New Mexico health care workforce committee report recommended that the legislature revisit the concept of dental therapists as an additional way to provide care to underserved areas of the state; and

     WHEREAS, after many years of effort, reaching a consensus on legislation has failed, the parties are at an impasse and legislative guidance is necessary;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to establish a "dental therapy task force" to prepare legislation for introduction in the 2016 legislative session establishing the licensure and practice of dental therapists in the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the dental therapy task force be requested to present, by October 1, 2015, proposed legislation and oral presentation to the legislative health and human services committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the dental therapy task force include, and be appointed, as follows:

          A. one member of the New Mexico house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

          B. one member of the New Mexico house of representatives, appointed by the house minority floor leader;

          C. one member of the New Mexico senate, appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate;

          D. one member of the New Mexico senate, appointed by the senate minority floor leader;

          E. six members appointed by the New Mexico legislative council from a list of names provided by the New Mexico dental association;

          F. three members appointed by the New Mexico legislative council from a list of names provided by the New Mexico dental hygienists' association; and

          G. three members appointed by the New Mexico legislative council from among the names provided by health action New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislative council charge the legislative council service with hiring an impartial facilitator that is chosen from lists of candidates provided by the New Mexico dental association, the New Mexico dental hygienists' association and health action New Mexico and with providing administrative support for monthly meetings of the dental therapy task force, beginning in June 2015; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president pro tempore of the senate; the speaker of the house of representatives; the president of the New Mexico dental association; the president of the New Mexico dental hygienists' association; the executive director of health action New Mexico; and the director of the legislative council service.