SENATE BILL 388

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; REQUIRING THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CONVENE A PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTY TASK FORCE TO WORK WITH INSTITUTIONS THAT PROVIDE PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTY CARE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY, EFFICIENCY AND COORDINATION OF PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTY CARE STATEWIDE; REQUIRING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT THE TASK FORCE THROUGH FUNDING AND MEDICAL, TECHNICAL AND LEGAL SUPPORT; REQUIRING PERIODIC REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

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

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTY TASK FORCE CREATED--DUTIES--REPORTING.--

          A. The secretary shall convene a "pediatric subspecialty task force" to work with institutions to collaboratively improve the quality, safety, efficiency and coordination of pediatric subspecialty practice statewide based upon findings and recommendations made by the task force created pursuant to House Memorial 14 of the second session of the fifty-third legislature. The pediatric subspecialty task force is administratively attached to the department pursuant to Section 9-1-7 NMSA 1978. The task force shall:

                (1) require regular reporting from institutions regarding the progress toward collaborative pediatric subspecialty care statewide;

                (2) advise and assist institutions in developing effective collaborative pediatric subspecialty care practices;

                (3) develop a short-term plan to improve sharing of patients, calls and medical records between institutions;

                (4) develop a feasibility study concerning the creation of a unified physical or virtual children's hospital that would include all pediatric subspecialties, a pediatric complex care clinic and at least two pediatric subspecialty centers in rural regions of the state, including a time line; and

                (5) consult with experts who practice outside the state in the delivery or provision of pediatric subspecialty care.

          B. The task force shall consist of at least twelve members, including the following ex-officio members:

                (1) the president of the New Mexico pediatric society or the president's designee;

                (2) the president of the New Mexico medical society or the president's designee;

                (3) the secretary of health or the secretary's designee;

                (4) the secretary of human services or the secretary's designee;

                (5) the medical director of the children and youth with special health care needs program in the children's medical services unit of the department of health; and

                (6) the chair and vice chair of the legislative health and human services committee.

          C. Remaining members shall be appointed by the secretary and shall consist of the following:

                (1) one representative from a family with a child with special health care needs;

                (2) one representative of a parent advocacy organization;

                (3) a representative from each institution who practices in a pediatric medical subspecialty;

                (4) a representative from each institution who practices in a pediatric surgical subspecialty;

                (5) one representative from a community nonprofit organization that advocates for children; and

                (6) one primary care pediatrician from a health professional shortage area who resides more than one hundred miles from Albuquerque.

          D. The members shall designate a chair and vice chair from the members of the task force.

          E. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the conduct of business. The task force shall meet at the call of the chair, and the chair shall coordinate the activities of the task force.

          F. The task force may form subcommittees or task forces as needed that may make recommendations to the task force. Members of subcommittees and task forces may include individuals who are not members of the task force but have an interest or expertise in pediatric health care or related matters.

          G. The secretary shall support the operations of the task force by annually requesting funding for its work and providing department assistance with medical, technical and legal issues as needed, through department staff or outside consultants.

          H. The task force shall:

                (1) make a progress report with findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee on or before November 30, 2019; and

                (2) meet until November 30, 2020, by which time the task force shall make a final report of its progress, findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee.

          I. Public members of the task force may receive per diem and mileage pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act.

          J. For the purposes of this section:

                (1) "department" means the human services department;

                (2) "health professional shortage area" means an area in the state of New Mexico designated as having a shortage of primary medical care, dental or mental health providers by the United States department of health and human services health resources and services administration;

                (3) "institution" means a health care institution in the state that provides pediatric subspecialty care, including treating children in the areas of cardiology, critical care medicine, emergency medicine, nephrology, pulmonology, rheumatology, surgery and transplant hepatology; and

                (4) "secretary" means the secretary of human services.

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