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

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT A FISCAL ANALYSIS OF A HEALTH SECURITY PLAN AND REPORT ITS FINDINGS TO THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

WHEREAS, while the number of uninsured residents in New Mexico has decreased, they are still experiencing increases in health care premiums, high deductibles, rising out-of-pocket expenses and increased pharmaceutical drug costs; and

WHEREAS, rising health care costs adversely affect state and local government budgets, as well as family budgets; and

WHEREAS, uncertainty regarding health insurance coverage at the federal level compels states to explore innovative opportunities and solutions to provide greater access to affordable high-quality health coverage to their residents; and

WHEREAS, studies completed in 1994 and 2007 by independent policy research firms examined the possible benefits of covering most or all residents under one health risk pool; and

WHEREAS, this approach could result in greater economies of scale, substantially contain costs, reduce administrative complexity and uncompensated care and create a more stable health care system that benefits all New Mexico residents; and

WHEREAS, the provisions of House Bill 295 and Senate Bill 279, introduced during the first session of the fifty-fourth legislature, outline an innovative health security plan based on decades of efforts to provide for statewide comprehensive health care coverage regardless of age, employment or health status; and

WHEREAS, the health security plan was first conceived twenty-seven years ago; and

WHEREAS, over the last several years, legislation has been sponsored to enact a health security plan; and

WHEREAS, proposals for a health security plan have been developed over many years with input from diverse sectors from all over the state; and

WHEREAS, over the years, one hundred seventy New Mexico organizations and thirty-five cities and counties representing a broad bipartisan cross-section of New Mexicans from all parts of the state have endorsed the creation of a health security plan; and

WHEREAS, before creating a health security plan, a thorough fiscal analysis is needed to determine its fiscal viability;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative finance committee be requested to work with contractors or consultants as needed to conduct a fiscal analysis of the health security plan as provided for in House Bill 295 and Senate Bill 279 of the first session of the fifty-fourth legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of superintendent of insurance, the human services department, the department of health and other state agencies and commissions; the New Mexico health insurance exchange; and New Mexico health insurers and providers be requested to provide health care cost and coverage information to the legislative finance committee as needed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative finance committee be requested to ensure that the collection of the data needed to conduct its fiscal analysis be coordinated with the human services department and other agencies and commissions to prevent duplication of effort; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative finance committee be requested to report the results of its analysis to the legislative health and human services committee no later than July 31, 2021; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chair and vice chair of the legislative finance committee, the superintendent of insurance, the secretary of human services, the secretary of health and the board of directors of the New Mexico health insurance exchange.