SENATE MEMORIAL 108

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Benny Shendo, Jr.

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONVENE AN INDIAN HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE FOR A STUDY TO ASSESS THE IMPACT TO THE STATE'S GENERAL FUND OF MEMBERS OF FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES RECEIVING HEALTH CARE FROM STATE AND OTHER FACILITIES OTHER THAN UNITED STATES INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE FACILITIES AND TRIBES.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's general fund has routinely and historically covered the cost of the medicaid portion of health care for all Native American New Mexicans within its established limitations and guidelines; and

     WHEREAS, members of federally recognized Indian tribes have grown in numbers and no longer primarily inhabit traditional reservation lands; and

     WHEREAS, members of federally recognized Indian tribes have established homes, businesses and communities in urban areas of New Mexico and away from reservations; and

     WHEREAS, some members of federally recognized tribes have been forced to travel back to their reservations in order to obtain and receive basic and emergency health care; and

     WHEREAS, those members unable to travel back to their reservations have sought and received limited health care services at New Mexico health care facilities, including the university of New Mexico hospital and Presbyterian hospitals; and

     WHEREAS, rough estimates place the New Mexico general fund expenditures for members of federally recognized tribes receiving health care from state and private facilities at over one hundred forty million dollars ($140,000,000) in 2015; and

     WHEREAS, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may provide a way for the New Mexico general fund to be spared in whole or in part from providing health care to members of federally recognized Indian tribes; and

     WHEREAS, the establishment of an Indian health care task force has been recommended by the university of New Mexico hospital board of trustees;  

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Indian affairs department be requested to convene an Indian health care task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Indian health care task force be requested to study and assess the impact that members of federally recognized tribes receiving health care from state and other facilities other than United States Indian health service facilities has on the state's general fund; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the Indian health care task force include all pueblo council of governors health committee members; representatives from federally recognized tribal governments in New Mexico, the Indian affairs department, the medical assistance division of the human services department, the university of New Mexico health system, the southwest community health representatives association and the United States Indian health service; a member of the New Mexico Indian title VI coalition; members of the medical profession; and two members each from the New Mexico senate and house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, on or before December 15, 2018, the Indian health care task force be requested to deliver its report to the interim legislative health and human services committee, the legislative finance committee and the interim legislative committee dedicated to Indian affairs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council, the secretary of Indian Affairs, the university of New Mexico health sciences center, the human services department, the Indian health service and the governor.

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