SENATE MEMORIAL 6

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Carrie Hamblen

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A NURSING HOME LONG-TERM CARE TASK FORCE TO ENSURE THAT NEW MEXICO IS ADEQUATELY PREPARED FOR FUTURE EMERGENCIES.

 

     WHEREAS, nursing home residents have been among the most vulnerable populations during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic; and

     WHEREAS, the quality of care provided and resident and staff safety are at the forefront when planning for future emergencies; and

     WHEREAS, uniform procedures and protocols for workplace safety measures are urgently needed to ensure adequate preparation for future emergencies;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of aging and long-term services be requested to establish a nursing home long-term care task force to ensure that New Mexico is adequately prepared for future emergencies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of aging and long-term services be requested to include the following participants in the nursing home long-term care task force:

          A. representatives from the department of health;

          B. representatives from the human services department;

          C. the long-term care ombudsman of the aging and long-term services department;

          D. representatives from the New Mexico chapter of the Alzheimer's association;

          E. representatives of AARP New Mexico;

          F. representatives of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community; and

          G. additional public members whose organizations provide nursing home care or are impacted by nursing home long-term care quality and safety; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the nursing home long-term care task force be requested to focus on the following issues:

          A. factors to optimize the balance of long-term services by the expansion of home- and community-based services;

          B. recommended strategies to improve the balance between facility-based services and home- and community-based services and supports;

          C. examination of nursing home reforms, including the implementation of new care models and optimization of nursing home size and configurations to foster resident wellness and infection control;

          D. outcomes of increasing the clinical presence in nursing homes and identifying appropriate nursing home staffing levels and ratios for certain resident acuity and special population needs;

          E. identification of capital investment needs to support the physical plant, technology and workforce development initiatives in nursing homes;

          F. consideration of broader reforms to the long-term system of care, including the development of technology requirements to enable enhanced use of telemedicine and telehealth;

          G. the institution of workforce engagement and advancement models, including options to advance up career ladders in nursing homes;

          H. review and evaluation of the current department of health skilled nursing facility state regulations and recommended changes to address and provide incentives to nursing home staff and caregiver professionals, to improve resident quality of care and to address issues that have arisen during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic;

          I. establishment of acuity adjustments for medicaid managed care payments to nursing homes;

          J. policy recommendations that specifically address lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues; and            K. policy recommendations that specifically address Alzheimer's and dementia issues in long-term care settings using evidence-based studies and practices; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to report its findings to the governor and the legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2021; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the chair of the legislative health and human services committee, the secretary of human services, the secretary of health, the secretary of aging and long-term services, the long-term care ombudsman of the aging and long-term services department, the executive director of the New Mexico chapter of the Alzheimer's association, the state director of AARP New Mexico, the executive director of the New Mexico health care association and New Mexico center for assisted living and the interim executive director of equality New Mexico.

- 4 -