HOUSE MEMORIAL 32

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

INTRODUCED BY

Rodolopho “Rudy” S. Martinez and Harry Garcia and

Randal S. Crowder and Eliseo Lee Alcon and Debra M. Sariñana

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO OFFICE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH, SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING AND SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS FOR VETERANS LIVING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WHO SEEK HEALTH SERVICES FROM THE FEDERAL VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND OTHERS.

     WHEREAS, a high percentage of New Mexicans have military service-related health problems that qualify them for access to the veterans health administration; and

     WHEREAS, the veterans health administration has rules and regulations that are not well known and often misunderstood, causing difficulty for veterans to access health care locally and regionally within New Mexico or in other states; and

     WHEREAS, excessive travel times, scheduling challenges, long waiting periods, unpredictable local services at community-based outpatient clinics and other challenges create an undue burden on veterans, many of whom have serious and multiple health conditions; and

     WHEREAS, other public health recipients, such as medicaid- and medicare-eligible individuals, who may also be veterans experience difficulty in accessing health care within a reasonable distance of their resident communities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the university of New Mexico be requested to convene, by May 1, 2019, a task force to address specific needs for improvements to the state's transportation and health care systems when serving veterans; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force develop a strategic plan to address those concerns, including measurable outcomes to help ensure that public investments in improvements to that system are as efficient and effective as possible; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of representatives of the following:

          A. the university of New Mexico office for community health, which representative shall serve as the chair of the task force;

          B. the university of New Mexico school of architecture and planning;

          C. the university of New Mexico school of engineering;

          D. the veterans' services department;

          E. the New Mexico veterans affairs health care system;

          F. the department of transportation;

          G. the American hospital association center for health innovation;

          H. the New Mexico alliance of health councils; and

          I. up to four additional members appointed by the chair of the task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university of New Mexico be requested to provide a report of the task force's findings and recommendations to the appropriate interim legislative committee by October 31, 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president and the chancellor for health sciences of the university of New Mexico, the secretary of veterans' services, the secretary of transportation, the director of the New Mexico veterans administration health care system, the president of the American hospital association center for health innovation and the chair of the New Mexico alliance of health councils.

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