HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 7

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

INTRODUCED BY

Miguel P. Garcia

 

 

 

 

 

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO STUDY FUNDING LEVELS AND NEW SOURCES OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT RESEARCH ON CAVERNOUS ANGIOMA, A DISEASE THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS HISPANIC NEW MEXICANS.

 

     WHEREAS, cavernous angioma is a devastating blood vessel disease that has enormous consequences for those affected and their families; and

     WHEREAS, cavernous angiomas are formations in the brain that cannot be detected easily except through very specific medical scans; and

     WHEREAS, cavernous angiomas appear to be passed from one generation to the next; and

     WHEREAS, those with a cavernous angioma should not take blood thinners or aspirin, but are rarely aware that they have the disease; and

     WHEREAS, medications are in clinical trials that may mitigate the effects of the illness for those who are diagnosed; and

     WHEREAS, cavernous angiomas are more common in New Mexico than elsewhere because of a genetic mutation passed down from the earliest Hispanic settlers; and

     WHEREAS, a person with a cavernous angioma may go undiagnosed until sudden death or stroke;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health and the board of regents of the university of New Mexico be requested to appoint a committee to study funding levels and new sources of funding to support research on cavernous angioma; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee be requested to devise educational campaigns that use the resources available to government agencies and hospitals to inform New Mexico residents of the dangers and warning signs of cavernous angioma; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee discuss with New Mexico health care providers the most appropriate international statistical classification of diseases codes to improve tracking of the illness in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee request New Mexico primary health care providers to report to the department of health the number of patients diagnosed with cerebral cavernous malformation in the provider's caseload by December 31, 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee encourage health care providers to recommend genetic testing for those most at risk for the illness by virtue of family history or symptoms; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee request that the

medical assistance division of the human services department determine if reimbursement through medicaid is available for genetic testing of those Hispanic New Mexico residents at risk for the illness; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee report its findings and its educational efforts to the interim legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2020; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health and the president of the board of regents of the university of New Mexico.

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